From infrastructure to impact: how data centers drive growth

Article published by EU Reporter on March 27

In a recent opinion piece, atNorth CEO Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson explores how data centers contribute to economic growth across Europe, beyond their role as critical digital infrastructure. As demand for AI and digital services accelerates, the discussion is increasingly balancing energy use with measurable societal and economic value.

The article highlights how data centers act as economic engines, supporting job creation, skills development, tax revenues, and local infrastructure. Across the Nordics, this model is already delivering tangible impact, linking data center investment with renewable energy adoption and regional development.

Magnús also calls for a shift in how the industry is perceived: “For many, a data center looks like a secretive, silent warehouse – an ‘empty box’ consuming energy and taking up land. But this perception obscures the reality that modern data centers are, in fact, economic engines.”

The piece reinforces how sustainable, well-integrated data center development can support Europe’s digital growth while strengthening resilience, competitiveness, and long-term economic value.

Read the full article here.