Bull's €80M factory expansion puts European supercomputing and startups in the spotlight

Bull, a French company specializing in high-performance computing, AI and quantum technologies, has unveiled an expanded €80 million manufacturing facility in Angers, France. The facility employs nearly 300 people and plans to hire an additional 50 to 100 workers. It can now assemble 12 computing racks per week, with production potentially reaching 24 racks weekly.

The factory houses separate zones for high-performance computing, AI infrastructure, and testing. Technicians work at individual stations using specialized tools, rather than in traditional assembly lines. The expansion allows Bull to simultaneously assemble multiple large-scale supercomputers, including France's 94-rack Alice Recoque and Finland's €388 million LUMI-AI system.

The redevelopment incorporates 3,500 photovoltaic panels and a heat-recovery system, while Bull also plants around 1,500 trees near the site. The investment stems from France's Green Fund, ADEME's Heat Fund, and the Pays de la Loire Regional Council. Bull's patented Direct Liquid Cooling system enables efficient heat dissipation, and the company sources electronic boards manufactured in France.

Emmanuel Le Roux, Bull's CEO, emphasizes the importance of European control over computing infrastructure, highlighting the Angers facility's current operational status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bull has secured 15 out of 18 EuroHPC tenders and is set to launch an Open Factory initiative to support European technology businesses.