Germany has launched the Teuken-7B language model as part of the EU project OpenGPT-X, driving European digital sovereignty with open and trustworthy AI solutions. Funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the initiative enables German authorities and institutions to access cutting-edge generative AI (GenAI) technology. A consortium led by Fraunhofer Institutes IAIS and IIS developed and trained the model using the Jülich supercomputer JUWELS. Teuken-7B has been available under an open-source Apache 2.0 license since November 26, offering multilingual support for all 24 EU official languages.
Deutsche Telekom has transitioned the research-driven Teuken-7B model into a commercially available AI solution. Through its subsidiary T-Systems, the company offers flexible deployment options for businesses and public authorities, including ultra-secure data centers in Germany or self-hosted infrastructure. The model supports retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), enterprise-grade chatbots, and document summarization, providing a versatile alternative to mainstream AI offerings. This development strengthens Europe’s competitive position in the global AI market while adhering to strict GDPR and ethical AI standards.
Teuken-7B is optimized for energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, enabling enterprises to develop specialized applications while retaining control over sensitive data. “Teuken-7B from OpenGPT-X is a flagship project ‘Made in Germany’ and a crucial component in the digital strategies of customers who prioritize sovereignty,” said Dr. Ferri Abolhassan, CEO of T-Systems.
• Developed under OpenGPT-X, funded by Germany’s BMWK.
• Created by a consortium including Fraunhofer IAIS, Fraunhofer IIS, TU Dresden, DFKI, and Forschungszentrum Jülich.
• Trained on the JUWELS supercomputer; available under Apache 2.0 open-source license.
• Supports all 24 EU official languages with energy-efficient and cost-effective design.
• Commercialized by Deutsche Telekom via T-Systems for secure, GDPR-compliant deployment.
• Applications include RAG, enterprise chatbots, and document summarization.
