A new partnership between enterprise software giant SAP and artificial intelligence leader OpenAI aims to deliver advanced AI capabilities to Germany’s public sector through a sovereign cloud infrastructure. The initiative, called “OpenAI for Germany,” will be supported by SAP’s subsidiary, Delos Cloud, and will run on Microsoft Azure technology, ensuring that sensitive government and citizen data remains within the country’s borders and complies with strict national and European Union data privacy regulations.
The collaboration seeks to integrate AI agents into the daily workflows of millions of public employees, automating administrative tasks and freeing up personnel to focus on more direct citizen services. Scheduled to launch in 2026, the project is designed to accelerate efficiency and innovation within German governments, administrative bodies, and research institutions. By leveraging OpenAI’s powerful language models within a secure and sovereign environment, the initiative directly supports Germany’s national strategy to become a global leader in applied AI and to harness the technology to drive significant economic growth and modernization.
A Strategic Alliance for National AI
The joint effort brings together three major players in the technology sector: SAP, a dominant force in enterprise application software with deep experience in the public sector; OpenAI, the research and deployment company behind models like ChatGPT; and Microsoft, a leading provider of cloud computing infrastructure. Christian Klein, CEO of SAP, emphasized that the partnership combines his company’s sovereign cloud expertise with OpenAI’s advanced AI to create solutions specifically “built in Germany, for Germany.” This focus on a tailored, national solution is a key aspect of the initiative, addressing the specific needs and regulatory landscape of the German public sector.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, noted Germany’s history as a pioneer in engineering and technology, highlighting that millions of Germans already utilize ChatGPT. He stated that the goal of “OpenAI for Germany” is to extend this potential to the public sector in a manner consistent with German values of trust and safety. The partnership represents a significant step in deploying large-scale AI within a framework that prioritizes national control over critical data and technological infrastructure, a concept often referred to as digital sovereignty.
Infrastructure and Technological Foundation
The technical backbone of the initiative is SAP’s Delos Cloud, a sovereign cloud service designed to meet the high-security requirements of public sector clients. This cloud environment will operate on Microsoft Azure’s powerful and scalable platform. Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, affirmed that this structure will ensure AI is deployed with the highest standards of data privacy, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience. This model allows German public institutions to adopt AI with confidence, knowing that their data is managed under local control.
Expanding Computational Power
To support the intensive computational demands of advanced AI workloads, SAP plans a significant expansion of Delos Cloud’s infrastructure. The company intends to increase its capacity to 4,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which are essential for training and running complex AI models. SAP has also indicated further investments to bolster Germany’s overall AI capabilities, including the potential for SAP-owned facilities and collaborations with other data center providers. This investment in hardware underscores the commitment to building a robust, in-country capacity for AI development and deployment.
Advancing Germany’s High-Tech Agenda
This collaboration is a cornerstone for developing customized AI applications for public sector use. The initiative will enable the creation of AI agents capable of managing records, analyzing administrative data, and improving the overall efficiency of government operations. These solutions will be designed from the ground up to align with Germany’s stringent legal and data sovereignty requirements, ensuring that their implementation is both effective and compliant.
The project directly supports the German Federal Government’s “High-Tech Agenda,” a strategic plan that aims for AI-driven value creation to contribute up to 10% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030. By embedding sovereign AI into public services, the partnership contributes to Germany’s ambition to remain at the forefront of applied AI on the global stage. It also aligns with the “Made for Germany” initiative, a broader effort backed by 61 companies and investors who have pledged over €631 billion to accelerate growth and modernization in the country. SAP has separately committed more than €20 billion to reinforce digital sovereignty in Germany, further linking its corporate investments with national priorities.
The Future of Sovereign AI
By combining SAP’s deep knowledge of enterprise and public sector processes, OpenAI’s leading AI models, and Microsoft’s global cloud platform, “OpenAI for Germany” is positioned to be a tailored, sovereign solution for the country’s public institutions. The effort serves as a high-profile example of how AI can be responsibly applied at a national scale, with an infrastructure designed to protect sensitive data and meet rigorous regulatory standards.
With its planned launch in 2026, the initiative promises to provide Germany’s public sector with the necessary computational resources and a robust governance framework. This will empower government agencies to harness the power of AI for increased efficiency, service innovation, and national competitiveness. The success of this model could serve as a blueprint for other nations seeking to adopt advanced AI technologies while maintaining control over their digital infrastructure and data, balancing the benefits of global innovation with the imperatives of national sovereignty.
