The Vienna Scientific Cluster and the path to AI Sovereignty

Dear Data Enthusiasts,

Join us on 29th of January @ the Vienna Scientific Cluster (VSC), TU Wien for the 2025 kick-off. As the dependency on global big players in IT, AI and computing infrastructure is increasing, we want to give you some perspectives on local alternatives. Together with EuroCC we will explore the capabilities of the VSC and how you can effortless utilize it’s resources. However, apart from the pure infrastructure, there are a lot more aspects that need to be addressed by companies and institutions in the EU on the path to AI Sovereignty. Hear all the details from our two speakers!

But wait, there is more! This meetup takes place at the data center hosting the VSC supercomputers and you will have the chance to participate in a guided tour after the talks (also including the new system MUSICA that hasn’t been opened to the public yet)!

AI Sovereignty - A potential way forward for Europe Jakob Reiter, entrepreneur, developer, digital humanist and the founder of Mimirio In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and economies worldwide, Europe stands at a crossroads. The concept of AI sovereignty offers a promising path forward, emphasizing the importance of technological independence, data control, and ethical innovation. As global tech giants continue to dominate the landscape, Europe’s unique values and regulatory frameworks present both a challenge and an opportunity to carve out a distinct role in the AI ecosystem. This talk explores the practicalities and possibilities of achieving AI sovereignty, outlining the technical foundations and collaborative efforts necessary to empower Europe to lead with integrity and innovation in the digital age. Jakob Reiter is an entrepreneur, developer, and digital humanist based in Vienna. As the founder of Mimirio, he focuses on simplifying knowledge and amplifying actions through private AI technologies tailored for European medium to enterprise businesses. With over 15 years of experience, Jakob blends his technical expertise with a passion for business, law, and ethical system design, striving to enhance carbon-based with silicon-based intelligence.

When Data Gets Too Big: Supercomputing Solutions Markus Stöhr, HPC expert at Vienna Scientific Cluster and project manager of National HPC Competence Centre EuroCC Austria As data grows exponentially, traditional tools often hit their limits in handling the scale, complexity, and speed required for data-intensive tasks. Whether it’s analyzing massive datasets or training advanced AI models, sooner or later, a laptop or local infrastructure just isn’t enough — that’s where supercomputers come in. This talk will introduce the Vienna Scientific Cluster (VSC), Austria’s flagship supercomputing infrastructure, and explore how high-performance computing (HPC) can address performance-related challenges for researchers, developers, and data professionals. Markus, with 20 years of experience in HPC, has helped countless researchers leverage national HPC systems. Now, as the leader of Austria’s national HPC competence center, he also supports startups and SMEs in utilizing publicly available supercomputers in Austria and all over Europe.

! Note that admission is based on an RSVP list. Please make sure that you RSVP and that you have a human-like name set up on Meetup.com :)

🎤🎤 Open Mic We are going to open up the stage after the talks for community announcements. If you’d like to announce something, open this slide deck, make sure you are signed in with a google account, and click “View Only” -> “Request Edit Access”. Explain in the text box what you want to announce, and we’ll give you edit access to the slide deck. 🎤🎤 Also, please note that during the event, photos might be made and later posted on VDSG’s or EuroCC’s social media page. Please notify us if you do not agree. Attention attendees with food allergies. Please be aware that the food and drinks provided may contain or come into contact with common allergens, such as dairy, eggs, wheat, soybeans, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, or wheat.

Best, The Organizer Team