Schwerpunkt Rüstung: Regierung legt Start-up-Strategie vor

AMD and Anthropic have announced a major partnership centered around the deployment of AMD’s high-performance GPUs in Anthropic's AI data centers. The agreement involves up to two gigawatts of computing power specifically dedicated to AMD’s fastest AI accelerators, the Instinct MI455X. This capacity could translate into between one and two million accelerators, with each server node featuring four such units paired with AMD’s Epyc Venice processors. The deal includes not just hardware but also software and networking components from AMD’s acquired Pensando firm, along with its ROCm platform. The initial phase of this collaboration, delivering one gigawatt of Instinct MI455X GPUs, is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, the scale of the order suggests a multi-billion-dollar transaction. However, Anthropic has not committed to purchasing all the hardware, using the term “up to” two gigawatts, which implies flexibility. Given the rapid evolution of AI hardware, the agreement is expected to conclude by the end of 2028, after which the technology may become outdated. Parallel discussions with NVIDIA are ongoing, as many AI developers and cloud providers often utilize different vendors' hardware for distinct tasks, such as training versus inference. In addition to the hardware deal, AMD has pledged to invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic. A portion of this investment is likely tied directly to the hardware procurement, reinforcing a strategic alignment between the two companies. Both parties have also entered into a long-term software partnership aimed at enhancing AMD’s development capabilities. Anthropic’s AI models, including Claude, will be used to optimize workloads for AMD’s Instinct GPUs and accelerate the development of ROCm software. AMD plans to integrate these models extensively into its engineering and product development teams, further deepening their technical collaboration. The announcement has already had a positive impact on AMD’s stock, which rose nearly six percent following the release of the details. Meanwhile, Germany’s federal government has unveiled a new startup strategy designed to support young, innovative businesses during their growth phases. For the first time, the focus of this initiative extends to the security and defense sectors, marking a shift toward bolstering domestic technological leadership. The strategy, approved by the federal cabinet, outlines measures to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, increase access to private and public venture capital, and facilitate startups originating from academic institutions. The government aims to prevent successful local firms from relocating abroad, particularly in light of the altered security landscape since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This geopolitical context has driven substantial growth in the defense and security industries, with German firms like Quantum-Systems, Tytan Technologies, Stark Defense, and Helsing securing funding rounds exceeding €100 million. These companies specialize in advanced technologies such as drone systems, hypersonic weapons, and satellite-based surveillance, many of which originate from civilian applications. To address the challenges faced by startups in accessing growth capital, the government plans to expand the Deutschlandfonds, a state-backed program that uses guarantees to mitigate investment risks and attract up to €130 billion in private capital for future-oriented projects. The strategy also proposes expanding the role of pension funds in investing in startups and simplifying legal structures for cross-border operations. The project “Schneller Gründen” seeks to streamline administrative processes through digitization, making it easier for entrepreneurs to operate internationally. Additionally, the government is exploring ways to make Germany more attractive for talent acquisition, proposing flexible employment contracts and improved tax incentives for employee shareholding. The need for such initiatives is underscored by recent findings from EY’s Startup Barometer. Despite a 14% increase in risk capital raised in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year, the number of financing rounds dropped by 11%. Investors are increasingly favoring large-scale deals over smaller ventures, leaving younger and less established startups at a disadvantage. With only 0.15% of GDP allocated to venture capital in Germany, compared to 0.8% in the United States, the government argues that greater mobilization of private capital is essential for fostering innovation. The new strategy represents a comprehensive effort to position Germany as a competitive hub for tech-driven startups, especially within the defense and security sectors.