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July 31, 2025

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OpenAI expands to Europe with $2B Norway data center, plans 100K GPUs by 2026

4 Mins Read

OpenAI is taking its AI infrastructure strategy global, with a major investment in Europe’s north.

The firm, known for developing ChatGPT, will become the primary capacity buyer in a new Stargate-branded data centre planned for northern Norway.

In partnership with British tech infrastructure firm Nscale and Norwegian energy giant Aker, the project will deploy 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by the end of 2026.

This marks OpenAI’s first major data centre deployment in Europe. The Norway build is also part of a broader sovereign AI push across the continent, as governments seek more local control over where and how artificial intelligence workloads are handled.

Norway site to use 230MW of hydropower

The data centre will be based in Kvandal, near Narvik in Norway’s far north. According to the companies, the region has several advantages, including low electricity demand, limited transmission bottlenecks, and access to abundant hydropower.

The facility is expected to start with a capacity of 230 megawatts, placing it among Europe’s largest AI data centre projects.

Both Nscale and Aker have committed approximately $1 billion each to the initial 20-megawatt development phase. The total GPU count is expected to reach 100,000 within two years, with further capacity expansions planned.

Nvidia’s chips have become the go-to solution for handling complex AI tasks in data centres. The project will rely on these GPUs to deliver the computing power required for generative AI applications.

Stargate enters Europe with $2B plan

The Stargate project was first introduced in the US earlier this year, with OpenAI, Oracle, Japan’s SoftBank, and UAE-based MGX as core partners.

Together, the group aims to invest $500 billion over the next four years to create a global AI infrastructure network.

June saw OpenAI and its partners announce plans for a Stargate campus in the UAE. The Norway data centre follows closely on that announcement, indicating an accelerating global rollout.

Unlike the UAE plan, however, this project will specifically target the European sovereign AI initiative, where AI services must operate under local data residency requirements.

The Stargate-Norway collaboration aligns with that push, with OpenAI set to act as an “off-taker”—buying significant computing capacity from the data centre without directly operating it.

Nscale leads OpenAI-backed build

British firm Nscale will design and construct the Norwegian data centre in a 50-50 joint venture with Aker. While OpenAI won’t own or run the facility, the company plans to use the computing power to expand its AI services on the continent.

Nscale CEO Josh Payne stated that the aim is to deliver European “sovereign compute” infrastructure that AI developers across the region can use to build productivity tools and commercial products.

Although he declined to reveal the exact financial structure or expected returns, Payne said Nscale has a separate European expansion roadmap beyond Stargate.

Currently, there are no additional Stargate sites announced for Europe. However, the push for increased capacity across fragmented EU countries may open doors for more large-scale AI infrastructure investments.

Nvidia, for instance, is also working with French AI firm Mistral to deliver new GPU-backed data centres in France.

Europe pushes for sovereign AI growth

The Stargate launch in Norway comes at a time when Europe is stepping up efforts to secure its digital future. Calls for sovereign AI infrastructure have grown louder, especially as American and Asian tech giants extend their footprint into the region.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, during a visit to Europe earlier this year, encouraged EU governments to build their own AI ecosystems. Sovereign AI is increasingly seen as essential for data control, economic independence, and technological leadership.

For OpenAI, this Norway project offers an opportunity to extend its reach while aligning with European policy demands.

By sourcing green energy and keeping workloads on EU soil, the company positions itself as a partner rather than just a service provider in the region’s AI future.

The post OpenAI expands to Europe with $2B Norway data center, plans 100K GPUs by 2026 appeared first on Invezz

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In World news

Psychedelics Market Update: H1 2025 in Review

5 Mins Read

The psychedelic drugs market is emerging as a strategic investment opportunity in healthcare, with forecasts generally placing its value around US$6.4 billion in 2025.

This burgeoning sector is set for robust, double-digit compound annual growth, significantly driven by North America, which is anticipated to account for approximately 45–50 percent of this market.

The first half of 2025 was characterized by clinical advancements and softening policy stances, furthering momentum and contributing to growing market interest.

Clinical progress and policy shifts drive market interest

Interest in the space continued in H1 as drug candidates advanced into pivotal trials, particularly in the treatment of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Cybin (NYSEAMERICAN:CYBN) reported meaningful progress, citing investor and regulatory confidence in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, LSD analogs and DMT derivatives.

Cybin’s 2025 financial results, released on June 30, highlighted significant progress in its lead programs, as well as its strong financial position, with C$135 million in cash reported.

CEO Doug Drysdale emphasized the company’s progress in building a strong foundation for anticipated clinical and regulatory milestones.

Key highlights include strengthened intellectual property with new patents for CYB003 and CYB004, strategic partnerships with Osmind and Thermo Fisher Scientific, and promising Phase 2 efficacy data for CYB003 in MDD, showing 100 percent responder rates and 71 percent remission with two 16 mg doses. The Phase 2 study for CYB004 in GAD is underway and expected to be completed around mid-2025.

Likewise, COMPASS Pathways (NASDAQ:CMPS) announced that its COMP360 psilocybin treatment successfully met its primary goal in a Phase 3 trial for treatment-resistant depression on June 23.

A single 25mg dose of COMP360 significantly reduced depression symptoms compared to a placebo at six weeks, showing a clinically meaningful difference and strong statistical significance. This marks the first Phase 3 efficacy data reported for a classic psychedelic, and Compass Pathways said it plans to discuss these positive results with the FDA.

Policy signals were equally consequential. Notably, the Texas House and Senate passed SB 2308 in May, which will provide up to US$100 million in state funds for ibogaine trials.

The results of the trials will be presented to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for potential approval of ibogaine for opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder and other neurological or mental health conditions. Governor Abbott signed the bill into law on June 11, representing a notable and progressive shift in the Republicans’ approach to drug policy.

However, the sector continues to face real challenges, such as costly clinical access and inconsistent regulatory frameworks that have resulted in a patchwork of state-level regulations. Despite these challenges, there are ongoing efforts towards federal reform and standardized guidelines.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently told members of Congress that new therapeutics using psychedelic substances could revolutionize treatment for mental health challenges.

‘This line of therapeutics has tremendous advantage if given in a clinical setting and we are working very hard to make sure that happens within 12 months,” he said during a House subcommittee meeting regarding the Trump administration’s proposed budget for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

FDA head Marty Makary has likewise labeled the assessment of MDMA and other psychedelics as a “top priority,” announcing initiatives aimed at potentially expediting their approval.

One new program in particular aims to accelerate drug approval, potentially cutting review times from six months to one month.

This initiative might relax requirements for some drugs, possibly waiving placebo-controlled studies, which have been a hurdle for psychedelic research because patients often know if they’ve received the drug.

Looking ahead

The National Psychedelic Landscape Assessment (NPLA) identifies 11 states with a high likelihood of future movement based on legislative viability, advocacy strength, public support, legislative momentum and strategic impact: New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana, New York and Arizona.

The report also points to several key trends and persistent challenges in the current psychedelic market.

Decriminalization at the state level has seen an enactment rate of just two percent, despite being a frequently introduced legislative concept, with 67 bills introduced since 2020. Movements have been hampered by public health and safety concerns, although local efforts are gaining momentum.

However, adult-use access has seen no legislative enactments through state legislatures, with existing programs in Oregon and Colorado being implemented predominantly via citizen-led ballot initiatives.

When it comes to medical access programs, New Mexico stands out as the sole state to successfully enact a licensed and regulated psilocybin therapy program through SB 219, battling hurdles such as regulatory complexity, affordability and securing sufficient provider participation.

The report also found that clinical trials have been gaining traction, particularly when state-funded and focused on vulnerable populations like veterans and first responders, with Indiana emerging as a leader in this area.

The state established a therapeutic psilocybin research fund in 2024 that compares psilocybin against existing treatments, and ensures transparent fund administration and research application processing.

A more moderate approach is seen in pilot programs, which offer a controlled environment for access and data collection. The crucial step of implementing legislation, necessary to operationalize enacted policies, shows a 50 percent success rate, according to the report’s findings.

The report also points to corporate influence and the strategic efforts by corporate entities to gain commercial advantage through state trigger laws and compound-specific legislation favoring patented compounds like COMP360.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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In Business

Recall warns some Celsius energy drink cans accidentally contain alcohol

1 Min Read

The canned cocktail maker High Noon is warning customers that some of its vodka seltzers were accidentally labeled as Celsius energy drinks.

In a recall notice posted to the Food and Drug Administration’s website, High Noon said an unspecified number of its Beach Variety packs contain cans are filled with High Noon vodka seltzer alcohol but have been mislabeled as Celsius Astro Vibe energy drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition, with a silver top.

Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition.Celsius

The products were shipped to retailers in Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin from July 21 to July 23.

The recall was initiated after High Noon discovered that a shared packaging supplier mistakenly shipped empty Celsius cans to High Noon, it said.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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In Politics

New tech-focused MAHA initiatives will usher in ‘new era of convenience,’ improve health outcomes, Trump says

4 Mins Read

President Donald Trump and several key health advisors in his Cabinet held a formal event Wednesday at the White House unveiling new efforts to improve healthcare technology and partnerships with private-sector technology companies. 

The ‘Make Health Tech Great Again’ event laid out a new voluntary commitment from several major tech and tech-healthcare firms aimed at developing a better process for digital health record sharing, which Trump admin officials said would ultimately improve health outcomes for Americans. In addition to the commitment, the new health tech efforts will also include the development of personalized tools meant to help patients obtain greater control of their health information to make more informed decisions.

‘For decades, America’s healthcare networks have been overdue for a high-tech upgrade, and that’s what we’re doing. The existing systems are often slow, costly, and incompatible with one another,’ Trump said from the White House during the Wednesday afternoon event. ‘But with today’s announcement, we take a major step to bring health care into the digital age, something that, is absolutely vital. We’ve got to do it. Moving from clipboards and fax machines into a new era of convenience, profitability and speed and, frankly, better health for people.’

The event announcing the Trump administration’s plan to advance a ‘next-generation digital health ecosystem,’ was attended by representatives of companies, including Apple, Google, Samsung, Amazon, OpenAI, Anthropic, Epic, Oracle, Athena Health, and Noom, who will be participating in the voluntary pledge aimed at improving health record sharing. As part of the pledge, the companies will ‘voluntarily’ share information with each other, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also present at the Wednesday event. 

‘For decades, bureaucrats and entrenched interests buried health data and blocked patients from taking control of their health,’ Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement Wednesday ahead of the event. ‘That ends today. We’re tearing down digital walls, returning power to patients, and rebuilding a health system that serves the people. This is how we begin to Make America Healthy Again.’

The Trump administration is partnering with more than 60 companies to bolster how health information is shared electronically, including through the use of apps, and beef up the interoperability of health information networks, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

The apps aim to address issues including diabetes and obesity management, and provide beneficiaries with AI assistants to walk through symptoms, provide care options, and assist with scheduling appointments. Other functions that the technology aims to solve are providing digital check-ins to streamline services and cut down on paper intake forms. 

‘It gives [patients] a sense of responsibility and allows them to measure the interventions if they change their diet, if they change their exercise, it can show you how many steps you took today, it can tell you if your glucose is spiking, and all of that information will now be available to American citizens,’ Kennedy said Wednesday. 

The White House event is a follow-up to the request for information notice that the CMS posted in May requesting information from stakeholders on ways to beef up health technology interoperability. 

Other technological advances on the health front include plans for CMS to launch an app library on Medicare.gov to best direct beneficiaries to the right digital health tools, according to CMS. 

‘The average Americans are tired. They’re tired of waiting for a doctor’s appointment. They’re tired of waiting for the surprise of what your hospital bill is going to offer. That’s being addressed,’ CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz added Wednesday. 

‘They’re tired of waiting for access to their medical records. You own your medical records, they’re yours. Why you can’t have access to them is a stunning reality in modern-day America,’ Oz continued. ‘They’re also tired of waiting for Washington to take action. And this president early on emphatically stated that wasn’t going to happen anymore. And today we made that vision into a reality.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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