Nvidia is actively connecting companies with its graphics processing units (GPUs) to data-center operators in the Nordic region as demand for AI infrastructure surges. This strategy aims to facilitate the deployment of Nvidia’s powerful chips in data centers, which are becoming increasingly vital for AI development.
The company has established a dominant position in the AI chip market and is expanding its influence within the AI ecosystem. Nvidia has engaged in “matchmaking” activities, as described by Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress in June, to assist firms in acquiring the necessary resources to establish computing capabilities. Kress emphasized the importance of helping companies secure land and power to expedite their computing needs.
Nvidia has initiated discussions with at least one data-center operator regarding potential offtakers, which refer to customers committed to purchasing or leasing computing capacity. Sources indicate that Nvidia is not only working within the Nordic market but is also making introductions between AI infrastructure firms and GPU holders in the U.S. and Asia. This effort is designed to ensure that those seeking GPUs have adequate data center space.
The Nordic region is appealing for data center investments due to its access to abundant power, land, and a cooler climate, which helps prevent overheating of equipment. Recent months have witnessed significant announcements of large facilities in Finland and Norway. For instance, Pure DC announced a €1.5 billion ($1.74 billion) investment to construct a 110 megawatt campus in Finland, with plans to expand capacity beyond 550 MW. Microsoft has also committed to additional computing capacity at an Nscale site in Norway.
Currently, there are 2.3 gigawatts of data center capacity awaiting future connections to the power grid, as reported by Statnett, the Norwegian grid operator. Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki rank among the top six global locations for data center development potential, according to a recent Savills report. Rupert Duckworth, an associate director at Savills, noted that the Nordics present one of the most transparent propositions for AI-driven data center growth, highlighting the region’s emergence as a focal point for substantial AI-oriented development.
In addition, three Nordic operators—atNorth, Bulk Data Centers, and Borealis Data Center—have achieved certification under Nvidia’s DGX-Ready Colocation Data Center program, which emphasizes the use of renewable energy and supports liquid cooling. Collaborative efforts, such as Crusoe’s partnership with atNorth to expand its ICE02 site in Iceland, further underscore the region’s commitment to enhancing AI infrastructure. The OpenAI-backed Stargate project in Norway is also aiming to deploy 100,000 Nvidia GPUs by the end of 2026, while another initiative in Iceland seeks to develop Europe’s largest liquid-cooled AI GPU installation with approximately 4,600 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs.
Featured image credit
