AI Factory Austria AI:AT strengthens Austria’s AI ecosystem

AI Factory Austria (AI:AT) is putting artificial intelligence into practice. With eustella, a European alternative to ChatGPT, a training programme with over 1,600 participants and a growing network, the initiative is strengthening Austria’s position as a hub for AI.

Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in competitiveness. AI Factory Austria AI:AT (AI:AT for short) provides businesses and research institutions with access to high-performance AI infrastructure: this national centre of excellence brings together high-performance computers, expertise and practical support services, and operates its own co-working hub in Vienna. This accelerates the development of trustworthy AI applications in Austria. 

You can get an idea of what it’s like in the video:

Supercomputers and AI:AT Coworking Hub 

As part of the European network of AI FactoriesAI Factories () under the EuroHPC Joint UndertakingEuroHPC Joint Undertaking (), AI:AT brings together research institutions, startups, businesses and public administration. The initiative is jointly led by the AIT Austrian Institute of TechnologyAIT Austrian Institute of Technology () und Advanced Computing AustriaAdvanced Computing Austria () (ACA) and is being implemented by an Austria-wide consortium comprising partners from the research and business sectors.

At the heart of AI:AT is access to high-performance AI computing infrastructure – currently provided, amongst other things, by the ‘Leonardo’ supercomputer in Bologna. The AI:AT high-performance computing (HPC) system is due to go live at the end of 2027; for science and research, the Multi-Site Computer Austria (MUSICA) HPC system – operated by Austrian Scientific Computing (ASC)Austrian Scientific Computing (ASC) () and newly commissioned in July – is already available.

In addition, the AI:AT Coworking HubAI:AT Coworking Hub () in Vienna’s Landstraße district, which opened in February, provides a central meeting place for stakeholders in the Austrian AI ecosystem. More than 20 technology companies are already working on site.

eustella: A European alternative to ChatGPT 

One of the newest companies at the AI:AT Coworking Hub is newsrooms.ainewsrooms.ai (), which moved in in April alongside Trending TopicsTrending Topics (), a media outlet owned by newsrooms.ai. CEO and co-founder Matteo Rosoli is impressed by the new working environment: “When we come into the office, we see so many other start-ups working on very specific topics. That really motivates us.”

At the end of June, the startup launched eustellathe startup launched eustella (), a new AI application for the web and smartphones, described on its website as “the European alternative to ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini”. To this end, eustella relies on European cloud infrastructure, OpenWeight models and high data protection standards. 

For Karl Kugler, co-lead of AI Factory Austria, the fact that a start-up based at the AI:AT Coworking Hub is launching a European AI solution onto the market sends a strong signal about the location. “This is exactly why AI Factory Austria AI:AT was set up: we provide access to expertise, guidance, infrastructure pathways and partners.” 

Following Mistral’s acquisition of Emmi.aiMistral’s acquisition of Emmi.ai () in May 2026, eustella’s AI agent is yet another strong demonstration of Austria’s capacity for innovation. 

From AI assistants to humanoid robots 

The hub is developing a range of AI applications, for example in the following sectors: 

• Digital Health: The HealthTech startup Zenta SolutionsZenta Solutions () uses AI to analyse medical data. 

• SportsTech: Wictory.aiWictory.ai () develops AI-powered solutions for sport and health. 

• Generative AI: Soda Zitron MediaSoda Zitron Media (), meanwhile, uses generative AI for high-quality media and content production. 

Among the projects associated with the AI:AT Hub is the Viennese company NeoalpNeoalp (), which develops AI-powered solutions for the use of humanoid robots in industry.

How businesses and startups benefit 

AI:AT is also committed to building AI skills. According to AI:AT, since the training programme was launched in July 2025, 73 training sessions – such as webinars – have already been held, attracting more than 2,700 participants from 35 countries. The topics range from generative AI and machine learning to trustworthy AI, agentic AI and domain-specific applications. 

For startups, SMEs and research organisations, AI Factory Austria provides access to resources that are often only available to large technology companies. They can utilise high-performance computing capabilities, test AI applications, find research partners and provide targeted training for their teams.