iGenius unveils plans for massive AI data center in Italy with Nvidia servers

Italy's startup, iGenius, has announced a partnership with Nvidia to establish a large data center in the southern part of the country, targeted for completion by mid-2025. This facility will showcase around 80 Nvidia GB200 NVL72 servers, which are known for their capacity to host Nvidia's state-of-the-art Blackwell chips. The CEO of iGenius, Uljan Sharka, reported that the company is currently valued at over $1 billion and has successfully raised 650 million euros in funding just in 2024. There are plans for additional capital influx aimed at enhancing their AI computing system, named Colosseum, which will feature Nvidia's advanced technology and will be instrumental in developing open-source AI applications to facilitate secure industries, such as financial consulting and government planning. The infrastructure referred to as the 'Colosseum supercomputer' will leverage thousands of Nvidia Grace Blackwell Superchips, delivering remarkable processing capabilities estimated at 115 exaflops. This supercomputer will be powered sustainably through renewable energy sources sourced from Italy, reinforcing iGenius's commitment to environmental considerations. Furthermore, the system will employ liquid cooling technology, enhancing operational efficiency while minimizing energy consumption. In practical terms, the newer AI models and applications developed from this project will be delivered as Nvidia NIM microservices and will be accessible to customers who can deploy them as managed applications either in the cloud or on-premises. The partnership also emphasizes the innovative aspect of iGenius's vision, which is to harness the power of AI through advanced computing to improve services in various sectors, including healthcare. Given the increasing demand and investment in AI technology across Europe, this collaboration between iGenius and Nvidia is noteworthy and timely. Investor interest has also surged as evidence suggests Nvidia stock has jumped significantly, up over 201% in 2024, largely fueled by the growing enthusiasm around artificial intelligence. Analysts foresee that Nvidia’s Blackwell chips may generate substantial revenues in the upcoming years, with projections set for the production of millions of these chips out of major semiconductor manufacturing hubs. Overall, the establishment of this data center in Italy marks a significant stride for iGenius and Nvidia as they aim to revolutionize the landscape of AI technology in Europe, catching the wave of technological advancements while capitalizing on a well-structured partnership.