Google announced on Wednesday that it would invest at least 13 billion euros in several projects in Finland, including data centers intended to run its artificial intelligence models.
“This is the most significant investment Google has ever made in Europe,” the group said in a statement.
The Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the development “historic”.
“This makes us a pioneer in the fields of digital technology and AI,” he said to AFP.
The leader sees here proof of the “good decisions” taken in Finland, citing in particular investments in the electrical grid, electricity production and the workforce.
These investments will fund the development of data centers and other partnerships in the municipalities of Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala.
The funds also cover “clean energy” projects and will be injected into “funds dedicated to nature,” Google said.
The tech giant has gradually strengthened its presence in Finland, after buying in 2009 an old paper mill and transforming it into a data center.
“We are currently continuing our activities in Hamina, where we are expanding the site on a remarkable scale, and we are launching the operation of data centers on three new sites,” said Antti Järvinen, Google’s country manager in Finland, to AFP.
The total number of new data centers to come online should be known in the coming months.
Finnish group Fortum announced on Wednesday that it had signed a 22-year contract to supply electricity to Google, which will allow it to “continue operating the Loviisa nuclear power plant until the expiration of its authorizations, in 2050”.
The construction phase for these new Google investments is planned for 2027 and 2028. According to the tech giant’s estimates, they will raise Finland’s GDP by 3.6 billion euros per year and “support more than 37,000 jobs” in the Nordic country, including 16,000 in construction.
