BMDS: Federal government adopts data center strategy

Whether it’s real-time traffic jams on your cell phone, AI diagnoses at the doctor’s or remote maintenance of machines – innovative applications with artificial intelligence require enormous computing power. With over 2,000 systems, Germany is already the leader in Europe in terms of computing capacity. The German government wants to consolidate this position and has set itself clear goals. Germany is to become one of the most attractive locations for data centers by 2030.

Federal Digital Minister Dr. Karsten Wildberger: “Germany needs more computing power. We want to become the leader in artificial intelligence in Europe and use this technology everywhere in business and society. By 2030, we want to at least double our data center capacities and quadruple our capacities for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Our strategy is a clear roadmap for this: sufficient space, affordable, secure electricity and fast approvals. Every new data center in Germany strengthens our digital sovereignty and competitiveness.”

Central areas of action in the strategy

The strategy comprises 28 measures in three central fields of action: Energy and Sustainability, Location and Area and Technology and Sovereignty.

In the area of energy and sustainability, the aim is to supply data centers with reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly energy. Data centers are to be connected to the grid more quickly in future. The integration of renewable energies is also to be strengthened through market-based procurement or in-house generation. Other key factors for the planning and operation of data centers are energy efficiency and waste heat recovery.

The location and space field of action focuses on the rapid designation and development of suitable areas for data centers. Forward-looking location and regional planning makes the sites attractive for investors and local authorities. The federal government also wants to speed up planning and approval procedures for data centers, for example through practical checks and practical interpretation of the relevant legal provisions.

Technology and sovereignty are another field of action. Data centers that are created in our country strengthen our digital sovereignty. Not only because the data is physically processed in our sphere of influence, but because this is the basis for an ecosystem to develop around it. The German government wants to promote this with targeted measures, e.g. by strengthening HPC and research networks, secure cloud solutions for government AI, promoting innovative data center technologies or improved framework conditions for the use of sovereign AI and cloud capacities at European level.

Implementation of the measures in the next 12 months

The Federal Government is relying on close cooperation with the federal states, industry, science and society to implement the measures. All measures are to be launched within the next 12 months and completed as far as possible. The strategy is to be updated on an annual basis. Existing measures are to be followed up and new measures included.

This translation was generated automatically. 

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Further links

👉 To the data center strategy

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