The city of Guimarães in Portugal is set to host a new data center.

The €5.1 million ($5.9m) facility will house a supercomputer and other systems supporting science and innovation in Portugal, construction company DST said.

It will be located on the Azurém campus of the University of Minho, and construction is expected to be completed in September of this year.

DST said it is leading the construction of the National Center for Advanced Computing’s data center, classified as strategic infrastructure for the country’s scientific and technological ecosystem.

According to the company, the data center is sponsored by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and was designed to house high-performance computing equipment dedicated to science, technology, and innovation activities.

Among the planned systems are resources from the University of Minho, national and European supercomputers, as well as telecommunications equipment and support for the Science, Technology, and Society Network (RCTS), which is responsible for connecting higher education institutions and research centers throughout Portugal.

Funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) under the Science Plus Digital investment, the project is described as a significant step forward in modernizing the national scientific infrastructure by strengthening the computational processing capacity required for highly complex research.

The installation of this infrastructure could also enhance Guimarães’ international profile as a technology hub, facilitating the hosting of conferences, innovation events, and initiatives related to the digital economy.

DST added that, in addition to the scientific and technological impact, the new data center is expected to contribute to strengthening the region’s digital ecosystem. The infrastructure is expected to create conditions to attract technology-based companies and startups, stimulating the creation of skilled jobs, especially in the areas of network engineering, cybersecurity, systems management, and specialized maintenance.

This piece was automatically translated from DCD's Portuguese site and edited by a member of DCD's editorial staff.