Milestone for digital sovereignty: Switzerland's most powerful commercial AI supercomputer put into operation in uptownBasel
A strategic milestone for Switzerland as a business location is being reached today at the uptownBasel innovation campus in Arlesheim (BL): The operator PHOENIQS, the uptownBasel innovation campus, and the area developer Fankhauser are jointly commissioning the country's most powerful commercial AI supercomputer. The new infrastructure enables companies, research institutions, and public institutions to operate sophisticated AI applications under Swiss jurisdiction – with full control over data, models, and workloads.
With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, the need for high-performance, secure infrastructures is increasing dramatically. Many global AI platforms were primarily designed for international scaling. Therefore, companies and public institutions are increasingly faced with the question of where data is processed, which laws govern it, and how sensitive AI applications can be operated in a controlled manner over the long term.
The new AI supercomputer in Arlesheim specifically closes this gap: It makes it possible to run complex AI models, data-intensive workloads and productive AI applications locally – without dependence on foreign hyperscalers and without data outflows abroad.
Commercial excellence and digital autonomy
Operated by PHOENIQS and developed using state-of-the-art technologies in collaboration with NVIDIA, IBM, and Dell, the system offers companies and institutions access to high-performance computing resources that were previously often only available through international hyperscalers. With 192 NVIDIA H100 GPUs, the infrastructure is among the most powerful commercially available AI systems in Switzerland. Compared to many AI infrastructures currently in use, the system offers up to ten times the computing power.
“With our AI infrastructure, we are creating the foundation for companies and public institutions to develop and operate high-performance AI applications in Switzerland – while adhering to the highest standards of data protection, security and digital sovereignty,” explains Thomas Taroni, founder and Executive Chairman of PHOENIQS.
A key driver for market access is the exclusive partnership with Sunrise. This combines PHOENIQS' AI infrastructure expertise with the Swiss telecommunications company's B2B network. This gives companies access to AI solutions that are developed, hosted, and operated in Switzerland.
uptownBasel as a location for the next generation of industry
With the commissioning of the AI supercomputer, uptownBasel is growing as an innovation campus for technologies that will shape the industry of tomorrow. In Arlesheim, about ten minutes from Basel, an ecosystem is emerging that brings together quantum computing, artificial intelligence, industry, energy, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, life sciences, start-ups and venture capital in one location.
“uptownBasel is creating the space and infrastructure for technologies that will be crucial tomorrow. The AI supercomputer represents another key building block in our innovation ecosystem – and sends a strong signal for Switzerland as a technology and business location,” emphasizes Bardo Magel, CEO of the uptownBasel Group.
The AI supercomputer complements Switzerland's first commercially usable quantum computer, which is already operational on campus. While the quantum computer is geared towards highly specialized optimization and simulation tasks, the AI supercomputer addresses the rapidly growing industrial demand for scalable AI models and production applications.
Today, uptownBasel comprises 18 companies with around 400 jobs on a 75,000 square meter site. Three buildings are currently in operation. The campus will continue to grow in the coming years: by 2027, more than 21 companies and around 1,100 jobs are planned, and by 2030+, 50 to 100 companies and around 2,500 jobs are expected to be established on the site.
Switzerland's only sustainable AI infrastructure
The fact that high-performance computing and ecological responsibility can go hand in hand is demonstrated by the architectural and energy concept of uptownBasel: “High-performance AI needs more than computing power. It needs places that are built for it. With uptownBasel, we have created precisely such a place: an area that combines energy, cooling, digital infrastructure and sustainable development into a functioning overall system,” emphasizes architect and area developer Hans-Jörg Fankhauser.
The computer is part of a comprehensive system comprising a stable power supply, efficient cooling, grid stability, security, and operational technology. Power is supplied via Swissgrid and Primeo Netz. Approximately three megawatts of power are available for AI operation. The system is complemented by battery storage for peak load smoothing, thermal buffer storage, and an additional emergency power supply based on biodiesel.
A closed, water-cooled system is used for cooling. The heat is dissipated directly at the rack level before it can spread throughout the room. The AI racks generate waste heat of approximately 50 degrees Celsius during operation. This energy is converted into hot water, used to heat the area, and fed into Primeo Wärme's regional heating network.