Kajaani data center ecosystem strengthens its position – CSC an active partner in the collaboration
Kajaani has become one of Europe’s key data center locations. The region’s infrastructure, green energy, strong expertise, and secure environment have made Kajaani an attractive destination for international operators. CSC is actively involved in supporting the growth of the Kajaani data center ecosystem.
LUMI was the first large-scale pan-European supercomputer investment in Kajaani, paving the way for further data center development in the region.
“CSC’s active presence in Kajaani will continue with the European Union’s LUMI AI Factory project. This initiative is part of the EU’s network of AI factories, and its new AI-optimized supercomputer will be placed in CSC’s data center in Renforsin Ranta in Kajaani,” says Eeva Sokka, Data Center Ecosystem Manager at CSC.
“The significant international growth in the data center sector, driven by the LUMI supercomputer, has demonstrated that Kajaani is an optimal location for sustainable and efficient data center operations,” states Risto Hämäläinen, Director of Development at the City of Kajaani.
“We want to further strengthen the ecosystem’s role in fostering business development and new opportunities around data center operations. The Kainuu data center pilot, part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s Data economy growth program, supports this goal excellently,” Hämäläinen continues.
The data center industry is much more than just data centers
The Kajaani Data Center Ecosystem is not limited to data center operators. It is a diverse and integrated network that includes education and research institutions, a platform for software development and AI companies, businesses utilizing waste heat from data centers, hardware and infrastructure providers, as well as experts in data center design and construction.
Niina Ahtonen, Director of the CEMIS (Centre for Measurement and Information Systems), emphasizes that the Kajaani ecosystem is more than the sum of its parts – it is a community that strengthens business opeartions tied to data centers and enables safe and efficient investments in the industry.
“Kajaani has ready-built infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a strong collaboration network that supports both large and small players in the value chain,” Ahtonen says.
Waste heat utilization as part of responsible operations
As part of the ecosystem’s sustainability goals, Kajaani is actively developing solutions for utilizing waste heat from data centers. This is a key aspect of the ecosystem’s sustainable growth, and new implementation opportunities are being explored through research, development and innovation projects.
“Kajaani is actively researching new ways to utilize data center waste heat. CSC’s data center already contributes to district heating, and new pilot projects are currently being planned,” says Silja Keränen, Project Manager of the Utilizing Data Center Waste Heat project at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences.
New brand to support ecosystem growth
A new, shared brand for the Kajaani Data Center Ecosystem aims at strengthening the city’s position as the Arctic capital of the data center industry, and supporting the ecosystem’s continued growth. CSC is also involved in the brand work.
“In the initial phase, the ecosystem will adopt a shared Kajaani Data Center Ecosystem logo, and during the spring, we will launch a new website that brings together key information and serves multiple target groups, including businesses, investors, and industry experts,” explains Milja Korhonen, Communication and Marketing Manager of the City of Kajaani.
“With a shared brand, the ecosystem will gain greater visibility in industry events, further enhancing Kajaani’s recognition in the global data center network,” Korhonen adds.
Read more
Eeva Sokka
Eeva Sokka leads the development of CSC’s data center ecosystem and stakeholder collaboration, as well as hosts high-profile visits to LUMI data center.