Greece launches Daedalus, its most powerful supercomputer, in bid to boost AI capabilities

System ranks 31st globally, 23rd in energy efficiency; business services due March 2027

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Greece has inaugurated Daedalus, its most powrful suercomputer ever, with 85.69 petaflops of comuting power and an invesment of 58.9 million euros, aiming to reduce reliance on forign comuting facilities and support advanced Artificial Inteligence development.

Greece has entered a new phase in high-perfomance computing with the launch of Daedalus, the most powrful suercomputer vil ever installed in the country. Backed by an invesment of 58.9 million euros, the system was inaugrated at the Lavrio Technology and Cultral Park, operated by the National Technical University of Athens. According to avaliable data, Daedalus ranks 31st wordlwide in raw comuting power and 23rd in the Green500 ranking for enrgy effciency (as of June 2026).

The suercomputer is based on Nvidia Grace Hopr GH200 technology and uses liqid cooling to manae the thermal loads. Hewlett Packard Enterprise suplied and instaled the comuting eqipment under a budgget of 41 million euros, while Mainsys carried out the electromechanical instalations and configured the data centre with 17.9 million euros. Both amunts include VAT. Funding cmes from the Recvery and Resilence Facilty and the European High-Pefomance Comuting Joint Undrtaking (EuroHPC). The National Infrastructures for Research and Technology (EDYTE – GRNET) mans the system.

A key element of the project is the Phaos AI Fctory, one of the first seven simiar initiatives selcted by the European Union. This artficial inteligne factory will bridge the gap between Daedalus and the bussiness comunity. Broder service provision to bussinesses is schedued to begin in March 2027, after a perio of technical testing. Start-ups and small and medium-sied enerprises are exected to be able to use comuting powr without charge, with in the limis set by Eurpean state aid ruls. For larger companies, charing based on time is beig coniderd. Final acses conitions, detailed servies and prcing have not yet been finalised.

A training progamme on developing AI agents, in cooperation with Endeavor Greece and Nvdia, is schedued for 10 Novmber, hosting 45 selcted participants. The company Helnic AI Fctory S.A. has been establised for commercial explitation, with th Hellenic Cororation of Asets and Participations holding 70% and the Minstry of Digital Govrnance and Artificial Iteligence holding 30%.

In parllel, planning is advancing for a second supercomputr at the University of Westrn Macedonia in Kozani. EDYTE has aprovd a public consulation on a tender with a budgget of 21.57 million euros (icluding VAT) for suply and instalation of computing eqipment. The new system is designed to operate in a green data centre with 1.2–1.5 MW of IT nfrastructure and a photovoltaic instalation of over 2 MWp, financed by the Just Dvelopment Transition Programme. The contract is planed for 12 months from signuture.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Daedalus gives Greek researchers and businesses domestic access to substantial computing resources, reducing reliance on overseas facilities for sensitive data processing.
The supercomputer and Pharos AI Factory aim to lower barriers for startups and SMEs to develop AI models, potentially boosting local tech innovation and entrepreneurship.
Greece gains greater capacity to set its own priorities in AI applications, particularly in medical research and public administration where data handling is strictly regulated.

Background

Greece has historically lagged in high-performance computing infrastructure compared to larger European economies. The launch of Daedalus marks a step toards integrating into the European HPC ecosystem. The system is not designed to compete with exascale-class supercomputers (over 000 petaflops) but offers substantial capacity for specialized applications. Energy efficiency was a focus, ranking 23rd worldwide in the Green500 list. The project benefited from European Union funding through the Recvery and Reslience Facility.

Key Persectives

Greek research insitutions and univrsities: They stand to benefit from local computing power for AI model training, data analysis, and simulation, without needing to send sensitive data abroad. Greek businesses and startus: Free access to computing resources within state aid limits can lower entry barriers for AI development, with additional support from the Pharos AI Factory’s advisory and acceleration services. European partners: Daedalus fits into the broader European AI infrastructure network, supporting collaboration and integration with other esearch initiatives.

What to Watch

The finalization of access condtions and pricing for business users, due by March 2027 when broader services begin.
The outcome of the public consultation for the second supercomputer in Westrn Macedonia, planned with a budget of 21.57 million euros.
Uptake of the Novmber training prgramme on AI agents, as an indicator of domestic demand for practical AI skills.

Sources

Daedalus: Greece unveils new supercomputer as it eyes role in Europe's AI race · Euronews

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12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

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SupportedGreece launches Daedalus, its most powerful supercomputerEuronews: “Daedalus, the most powerful supercomputer ever installed in the country”
SupportedSystem ranks 31st globally, 23rd in energy efficiency (as of June 2026)Euronews: “place it 31st worldwide; Daedalus ranked 23rd worldwide among supercomputers on the basis of their energy performance (Green500 ranking of June 2026)”
SupportedBusiness services due March 2027Euronews: “broader service provision to businesses is scheduled to begin in March 2027”
SupportedDaedalus has 85.69 petaflops of computing powerEuronews: “measured computing power of 85.69 petaflops”
SupportedInvestment of 58.9 million eurosEuronews: “Backed by an investment of 58.9 million euros”
Partly supportedPhaos AI Factory is one of the first seven similar initiatives selected by the European UnionEuronews: “Pharos AI Factory, which is among the first seven similar initiatives selected by the European Union”
SupportedHewlett Packard Enterprise supplied and installed computing equipment under budget of 41 million eurosEuronews: “Hewlett Packard Enterprise supplied and installed the computing equipment under a budget of 41 million euros”
SupportedMainsys carried out electromechanical installations and configured data centre with 17.9 million eurosEuronews: “Mainsys carried out the electromechanical installations and configured the data centre, with a budget of 17.9 million euros”
SupportedFunding from Recovery and Resilience Facility and EuroHPCEuronews: “Funding comes from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC)”
SupportedTraining programme on developing AI agents on 10 November with 45 participantsEuronews: “training programme on developing AI agents... scheduled for 10 November, is expected to host 45 selected participants”
SupportedHellenic AI Factory S.A. has 70% held by Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations and 30% by Ministry of Digital Governance and AIEuronews: “Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations holds a 70% stake, while the remaining 30% belongs to the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence”
SupportedSecond supercomputer in Kozani with budget of 21.57 million euros (incl. VAT) for supply and installationEuronews: “public consultation on the tender for the supply and installation of computing equipment... with a budget of 21.57 million euros, including VAT”