A new report has highlighted how the North East can lead the way in helping the UK develop the data centres of tomorrow.
The Shaping the Future of Data Centres and Cloud Innovation report by Dynamo North East CIC has outlined three key recommendations from senior tech sector stakeholders to help the region capitalise on the global demand for data centres.
As demand for new, data-intensive technologies such as AI and cloud storage continues to increase, the government has outlined bold ambitions to establish the UK as the best place in the world to invest in data centres and digital infrastructure.
The North East has already benefited significantly from this, securing a £10 billion investment from Blackstone for a new artificial intelligence data centre in Blyth (pictured), and those working in the sector believe there is no reason why this can’t be a firing pistol for further investment in the region.
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Earlier this year, the Dynamo Leadership Forum brought together a wide range of regional experts and stakeholders to explore how the region could support the Government’s efforts to grow the sector. The resulting report, Shaping the Future of Data Centres and Cloud Innovation, captured the key themes discussed and highlighted three strategic recommendations to ensure the region realises its full potential:
- Leverage green infrastructure to position the North East as a sustainable investment destination for data centres
- Create a regionally grounded innovation ecosystem and infrastructure roadmap
- Develop more industry-academic partnerships to address the skills gap
Dr David Dunn, chief executive officer of Dynamo North East CIC, said: “The North East is already home to key research centres and advanced data projects, including Newcastle University’s National Innovation Centre for Data and Durham University’s plans for a new supercomputing facility. At the same time, major private sector investments are being proposed that could significantly increase the region’s national and international visibility.
“However, as the report notes, real economic value will come not only from data centres themselves, but from the surrounding infrastructure, skills and partnerships they help unlock. This requires a collective effort from government, industry, universities and the wider community.
“By working together, the North East has the potential to lead the way in building sustainable, resilient and inclusive digital infrastructure for the future.”
The leadership forum was co-facilitated by Ruth Plater, CEO and founder of Radial Path, and included various industry representatives, most of which are named in the report.
She added: “With AI driving demand for more data centres, and the North East perfectly positioned in terms of both geographical location and access to talent, there’s no reason the government shouldn’t place greater emphasis on making the region a leader in data centre technologies.
“We have all the ingredients to be a global hub in this space and to ensure the UK capitalises on the bountiful opportunities that the rise of AI and new cloud technologies will present.”
