Denmark launches sovereign AI on Gefion to boost public sector

Denmark has activated a sovereign artificial intelligence platform on its national Gefion supercomputer, positioning the country as an early mover in Europe's effort to keep sensitive data and core AI infrastructure within its borders.

Netcompany has deployed its EASLEY AI platform on Gefion, which is operated by Danish AI infrastructure provider DCAI. The move creates what the partners describe as one of Europe's first sovereign AI solutions for public authorities.

Netcompany plans to migrate all of its AI services onto the Gefion system over time. The company said this will give customers in both the public and private sectors access to the same European-based infrastructure.

The partners said the set-up meets existing EU rules on data protection and digital services. It also keeps data processing inside Europe.

They said this removes a key barrier for governments and public bodies that have held back from using AI. These organisations have raised concerns about hosting sensitive data and critical models on systems based outside the region.

Estimates published alongside the announcement suggest potential gains for Denmark and the wider EU. The figures point to large productivity increases if public authorities adopt AI tools at scale.

Analysts cited by the companies said Denmark's public sector could realise annual productivity gains of up to DKK 55 billion by 2040 through the use of AI. This is equivalent to freeing resources that match roughly 100,000 full-time roles.

Similar estimates indicate that generative AI could lift public-sector productivity across the EU by about 10 percent. That would be worth around EUR 100 billion a year.

Netcompany said the sovereign infrastructure is intended for highly regulated environments. These include central and local government, healthcare, education, and other frontline services.

EASLEY AI provides a platform for building and running AI assistants and related tools. Gefion supplies the underlying computing power.

Netcompany said the combination allows public bodies to deploy AI assistants within European data centres. It said this is designed to keep citizen data within the region and maintain compliance with EU law.

André Rogaczewski, CEO and Co-Founder, Netcompany, said the new arrangement addressed a major barrier to adoption in Europe.

"Our greatest challenge in the EU isn't a lack of ideas for using AI. We fully understand the potential, but we're not realising it because of concerns surrounding the models and the infrastructure, that largely sit outside Europe. That changes now. With a Danish supercomputer powering Easley AI - and, over time, all our AI solutions - we can deliver Danish and European AI assistants suitable for the most highly regulated sectors. The path is clear. Now it's time to get started," said Rogaczewski.

Netcompany said many public authorities had delayed larger AI projects in the absence of regional options. It said these bodies require systems that guarantee compliance with data laws and restrict data flows to Europe.

Regulators in Europe have tightened rules on how organisations manage personal information. Institutions that handle health records, tax data or social services information face particular scrutiny.

Netcompany said local hosting on Gefion addresses these requirements. It said this includes rules on data security, auditability and the location of processing.

DCAI operates Gefion as Denmark's flagship AI supercomputer. The company provides infrastructure and support for academic users, startups, public institutions and larger enterprises.

Nadia Carlsten, CEO, DCAI, said the partnership showed how national infrastructure could support broader AI adoption.

"Partnering with Netcompany, Denmark's largest IT company and a leading company in Europe, to build more AI solutions on top of the world's most powerful AI infrastructure is a unique opportunity to show how we can fast-track AI innovation that will benefit more people. Now more solutions will be accessible to companies and public authorities that want to adopt AI while balancing the security and sovereignty of their data and systems," said Carlsten.

The integration of EASLEY AI on Gefion allows current and future users to build, implement and maintain AI assistants on European infrastructure. The partners said this applies across multiple sectors and use cases.

Netcompany, founded in Copenhagen in 2000, develops digital systems for public and private clients. The group focuses on projects in areas such as welfare, citizen services and core business platforms.

DCAI said its goal is to lower barriers to advanced computing while guaranteeing data stays under European jurisdiction. Its customer base includes research institutions and organisations in both the public and private sectors.

The two companies plan further work on additional AI solutions on Gefion. They said the Danish approach could provide a model for other European countries that are seeking greater control over strategic AI infrastructure.