Mimer: The Swedish AI Innovation Factory

In Scandinavian mythology, the Well of Mimer was a source of wisdom and understanding, where Odin sacrificed an eye in exchange for knowledge. Inspired by this tale, Mimer – The Swedish AI Innovation Factory ( mimer-ai.eu ) positions itself as a modern-day wellspring of insight, designed to transform Sweden and Europe into leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. Anchored in the framework of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) and hosted by the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS), Mimer is bringing universities, research institutes, and industry partners together to establish a powerful hub for AI-driven science, business, and societal development.

A Hub for Knowledge and Innovation

Mimer is built on a simple but bold vision: to make AI fundamental to European industry and society. The factory focuses on immediate opportunities where AI can act as a “cognitive companion” – complementing human expertise and enhancing existing processes. Its mission is to catalyse the adoption of AI across various sectors, reduce reliance on foreign cloud providers, and establish European sovereignty in critical digital infrastructure.

At its core, the Mimer AI Factory rests on three roots: academic research, industrial innovation, and enabling infrastructure. This mirrors the Norse world tree Yggdrasil, whose three deep roots sustain the growth of an entire ecosystem. Through this approach, Mimer will ensure that scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness, and societal needs advance together.

Addressing an Urgent Demand

Now is a crucial time to take action. The surge in demand for AI capabilities has outpaced the requirements for traditional supercomputing, with industry now outstripping academia in its need for large-scale data handling and model training. In particular, Swedish small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle due to having limited access to AI infrastructure and expertise, which leaves them dependent on costly and non- European cloud services that, in turn, raise issues of compliance, sovereignty, and data security.

Mimer is addressing these challenges by establishing a dedicated AI supercomputer for Sweden. Unlike traditional computing systems, this resource will be optimised specifically for running AI workloads. It will be equipped with powerful GPUs, fast interconnects, large-scale storage, and seamless cloud-style access. It will also integrate with global model repositories allowing researchers and companies to tap into AI “on demand” while benefiting from sovereign European infrastructure.

Anchored in Sweden’s Research and Innovation Landscape

Sweden is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. Over the past decade, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has invested heavily in programs such as WASP (about AI, autonomous systems, and software), DDLS (on data-driven life sciences), and WISE (on materials science for sustainability). These initiatives, each on the scale of hundreds of millions of euros, have cultivated world-class research and industry collaborations. The government has also supported large-scale life sciences infrastructures like SciLifeLab, while Sweden’s thriving startup ecosystem (which is home to companies like Spotify, Klarna, and Mojang) demonstrates a proven ability to scale global innovations. Lovable, a Swedish online AI- based website creator that allows users to build websites from scratch using just prompts and no code, broke the world record for the fastest- growing startup!

Mimer builds on this foundation by combining the national NAISS supercomputing infrastructure, hosted at Linköping University, with the industry- oriented expertise of the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE). This partnership ensures that both academic excellence and SME innovation are served, with co-working hubs being established in Linköping and Stockholm and support extended across the country.

Strategic Objectives

Mimer’s objectives are clear and ambitious.

• Catalyse growth and competitiveness: By lowering barriers to AI adoption, Mimer will empower SMEs, public agencies, and large enterprises alike to leverage AI for productivity and innovation.
• Transform scientific computing: Through its “AI4Science” agenda, Mimer will integrate AI with physics-based simulations, ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of global discovery.
• Train the AI workforce: Comprehensive education and hands-on programs will create a pipeline of skilled researchers, professionals, and entrepreneurs equipped for the AI age.
• Provide AI infrastructure that is ethical and sovereign: Making secure, EU-compliant data management accessible will ensure that sensitive information in sectors like healthcare or defence can be handled responsibly.

Target Sectors

Mimer prioritises four key domains where Sweden already holds competitive advantages.

1. Life Sciences – advancing personalised medicine, drug discovery, and health data analysis while safeguarding patient privacy
2. Material Sciences – accelerating discovery of sustainable materials by combining quantum chemistry, AI models, and industrial process design
3. Autonomous Systems – supporting robotics, drones, and self-driving vehicles, in collaboration with world-leading Swedish research and companies
4. Gaming Industry – harnessing AI to drive content creation, immersive experiences, and real-time simulations in one of Sweden’s most dynamic export sectors

These focus areas provide a strong base for broader cross-sector applications, from climate modelling to public administration.

Phased Roadmap

The implementation of Mimer will follow a structured three-phase roadmap.

1. Establishment (Years 1–2): Build the AI supercomputer, recruit key staff, onboard early users, and launch training programs. Partnerships with community platforms and model repositories are solidified.
2. Expansion (Years 2–3): Co-working hubs open in Linköping and Stockholm, roadshows attract industrial users, and broad training delivery reaches academia, SMEs, and government agencies. Pilot programs with large enterprises test cost-recovery and inference services.
3. Full Operation (Years 3–5): Stable large-scale use across sectors, integration into public services, commercialisation of models, and long-term sustainability through blended funding. By this stage, Mimer is a central node in the European network of AI factories, contributing to pan-European standards and collaborations.

A European Node of Excellence

Beyond its national mission, Mimer will play a vital role in the broader EuroHPC ecosystem. It will be deeply networked with other European AI factories, enabling the sharing of knowledge and resources across borders and also contributing to the establishment of a “European AI grid”. This approach will strengthen not only Sweden’s competitiveness but Europe’s digital sovereignty and leadership.

Conclusion

Mimer is more than just a supercomputer or a training programme. It is a national and European strategy in action — one that seeks to empower society with trusted, accessible, and cutting-edge AI. By combining the strengths of academia, industry, and government, Mimer will ensure that Sweden remains a world leader in AI- driven innovation while safeguarding European independence in a field that is rapidly becoming foundational for the future.

Like its mythological namesake, Mimer aims to be a wellspring of wisdom for generations to come – a source where knowledge, technology, and collaboration converge to shape a resilient and competitive Europe.