CSC strengthens Kainuu’s future through investments, jobs and skills development
CSC’s data center in Kajaani, Finland, is a key part of the infrastructure that enables world-class research in Finland and across Europe. The supercomputers located there are used to solve some of science’s most demanding challenges and to support the development of new innovations. At the same time, CSC contributes to the vitality of the Kainuu region through investments, jobs, skills development, and sustainable energy solutions. This article explores how CSC’s activities contribute to Kajaani and the wider Kainuu region.
CSC launched its data center operations at the Renforsin Ranta business area in Kajaani in 2012. Finland’s national supercomputers operated by CSC were previously located in Espoo. As demand for space and energy grew, CSC began looking for a new location.
Kajaani offered a unique and cost-effective combination of existing industrial infrastructure in an old paper mill, and access to renewable energy.
Building the new data center in Kajaani enabled CSC to significantly expand its high-performance computing capabilities. The pan-European EuroHPC LUMI supercomputer was inaugurated in Kajaani in 2022, and Finland’s new national Roihu supercomputer in May 2026.
“Today, CSC’s data center in Kajaani is an important European environment for high-performance computing,” says Eeva Sokka, Manager of CSC’s Data Center Ecosystem in Kajaani.
CSC’s Kajaani data center is expanding to host Europe’s next generation of computing infrastructure
CSC’s Kajaani data center is currently expanding. In the coming years, it will host the successor to LUMI, the next pan-European supercomputer, as well as a quantum computer. These systems are part of the LUMI AI Factory, one of the European Union’s 19 AI factories. Together, they will create an advanced public research infrastructure that combines quantum-accelerated high-performance computing and AI.
CSC is a company owned by the Finnish state and Finnish higher education institutions, and has a special state assignment.
“This role sets CSC apart from most data center operators. Our data center environment hosts supercomputers that enable cutting-edge Finnish and European research, education, and business innovation,” Sokka says.
Supercomputers are needed to address challenges related to climate change, medicine, and development of AI, for example. The infrastructure and expertise developed around them also strengthen the competitiveness of Finland and Europe.
Data center expansion creates jobs and supports local expertise – wood elements come from Kuhmo
The data center expansion is a major construction project carried out by SRV. Construction began in January 2026, and the expanded facility is expected to be completed in summer 2027.
Around 100 people from SRV and its subcontractors are currently working on the site and related tasks. The number expected to increase in the coming months.
The project makes extensive use of local expertise. For example, the CLT wood elements for the data center are manufactured by Crosslam in Kuhmo. The use of mass timber supports lower-carbon construction while creating work for local industry. Several regional construction, electrical, and HVAC companies are also involved in the project.
The impact of CSC’s data center extends far beyond direct employment. Data center operations create demand for services ranging from construction and technical maintenance to hospitality and accommodation. CSC has worked with many companies in the Kainuu region for years.
Reliable flight connections to Kajaani are also an important part of the smooth operation of data center activities, both now and in the future.
A workplace for 40 experts in Kajaani
CSC employs more than 750 people, approximately 40 of whom work in Kajaani. This includes experts responsible for operating and developing the data center, as well as top specialists from other CSC business areas.
“The presence of the data center has also made it possible for CSC employees from the Espoo headquarters to work from Kajaani. When we recruit new employees, they can often choose either Espoo or Kajaani as their office location,” Sokka says.
Excess heat from supercomputers supports heating homes in Kajaani
CSC’s data center has been designed with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind. The excess heat generated by the supercomputers is utilized extensively. The closed liquid-cooling system used to cool the systems enables highly efficient heat recovery. Loiste Lämpö, a local energy company, transfers the recovered heat into Kajaani’s district heating network.
Today, excess heat from CSC’s data center covers approximately 10 percent of Kajaani’s district heating. Heat generated at the facility is also used to warm buildings in the Renforsin Ranta business area. The amount of heat produced will increase with the expansion of the data center.
“In this way, CSC’s data center is part of Kajaani’s energy system. It not only consumes energy but also provides heat for local residents,” Sokka says.
CSC purchases only renewable electricity verified with guarantees of origin.
CSC plays an active role in building Kainuu’s data center, research, and innovation ecosystem
CSC actively participates in research, development, and innovation (RDI) projects across the Kainuu region. One example is the Kajaani Data Center Ecosystem (KDCE) collaboration, coordinated by the City of Kajaani, with CSC in a key role. Through the KDC2 project (Further Development of Kajaani Data Center Ecosystem), regional stakeholders are collaborating to strengthen RDI activities, expertise, cooperation networks, and investment readiness in the data center sector.
CSC is also a member of CEMIS (Centre for Measurement and Information Systems), which develops solutions related to measurement technologies and information systems while leveraging data analytics, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence. In the CEMIS-DCR project, CSC is a project partner working to improve data center energy efficiency and sustainability and to explore new ways of utilizing excess heat. Together with the University of Oulu, CSC is developing a digital twin of the LUMI supercomputer environment to model and optimize data center energy efficiency and other technical solutions.
In addition, CSC participates in the regional AIKA project, which supports business digitalization and the adoption of AI, data analytics, and high-performance computing.
Collaborating to build the data center workforce for the future
Finland’s data center sector is growing rapidly with new investments, and demand for skilled professionals is increasing. Operating data centers requires a broad range of expertise, spanning IT and data management to electrical engineering, automation, as well as the operation and maintenance of technical building systems.
In Kajaani, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, Kajaani Upper Secondary School, Kainuu Vocational College (KAO), and data center operators are working together to develop education and training for the sector. The shared goal is to strengthen expertise in data centers and digital infrastructure across the region while ensuring the availability of a skilled workforce to meet the industry’s growing needs.
“Together we want to ensure that education reflects real industry needs and job roles as closely as possible,” Sokka says.
CSC maintains an active dialogue with educational institutions about the future of data center operations and supports them in both the qualitative and quantitative development of their educational offerings. We provide students with internship and thesis opportunities, actively participate in career and recruitment events both locally and nationally, and welcome education developers from time to time to visit CSC’s data center to learn about its operations.
CSC is a visible and responsible member of the Kajaani community
CSC’s activities contribute to the vitality and long-term development of the entire Kainuu region.
“We are a major operator and developer of high-performance computing infrastructure in Finland and Europe. In Kajaani, we also contribute to regional success in many ways: through investments, skills development, and collaboration,” Sokka says.
The significance of CSC’s data center and supercomputers are not always easy for the general public to grasp. CSC raises awareness of its work for example through various events.
“It is important to us that people in Kajaani understand what supercomputers are used for and why, and that we are seen as a responsible and trusted member of the community,” Sokka says.
This autumn, CSC will again participate in Nordic Data Center Week, organizing events in Kajaani where local residents can learn more about data centers and supercomputing and discuss with experts.
Header image: LUMI supercomputer is located in a former paper mill in Kajaani. Image Mikael Kanerva / CSC
All photos: CSC
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Eeva Sokka
Eeva Sokka leads the development of CSC’s data center ecosystem and stakeholder collaboration, as well as hosts high-profile visits to CSC’s data center.
