This week, The Norwegian data center industry strengthens cooperation and founds the Norwegian data center industry association. The founders of the association consist of leading players in the Norwegian data center industry and the power companies Ringerikskraft and Statkraft. The association is placed under ICT-Norway (IKT-Norge) and will strengthen the industry's efforts, among other things, for better framework conditions and increased joint international marketing.
For the past year and a half, society has undergone a digitalisation that we could never have imagined before the pandemic. The importance of data centers as pillars of the digital foundation has been clarified as a basic and unmissable of secure access to digital services both for the public, government and private sector. The Norwegian Data Center Industry will work to strengthen Norway's position internationally within this industry, helped by the fact that Norway has Europe's highest share of renewable energy, very low climate footprint and the lowest electricity prices. In order to attract major international players to Norway, the new association will, among other things, focus on better framework conditions for new data centers, simplify the processes around the establishment and operation of large data centers, contribute to more competence development and better educational offerings within the data center sector and promote the use of sustainable technology and contribute to the green shift.
"Norway has all the prerequisites to become an attractive country to invest in a computerized business sector. The Norwegian data center industry has an untapped growth and value creation potential, set against a large and rapidly growing international market. The Norwegian Data Center Industry will be a key player in ensuring good growth conditions and framework conditions for the industry, and I am pleased with the opportunity to lead this work forward", says general manager Bjørn Rønning.
Wes Vermeere, co-founder Datacenter Forum: "We see a lot of untapped potential in Norway. Especially the enormous improvements in connectivity with Europe, the UK and the United States will be a huge driver for growth in Norway in the years to come. We are looking forward to welcoming the association at our annual event in Oslo, October 5th 2021".
