DC NEST launches collaborative approach to sustainable data centre development

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DC NEST has been established to help regional communities prepare for the expansion of data centres & other energy-intensive industries across the NPA area

06 October 2026 - DC NEST project

Project partners from across the Northern Periphery and Arctic region recently came together to officially launch the Data Center NPA Ecosystem (DC NEST) project, a project funded by the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) Programme.

The kick-off meeting provided an important opportunity for partners to establish a shared understanding of project objectives, define responsibilities, agree management processes, and map out communication and engagement activities for the project's implementation phase.

The consortium was also pleased to welcome Christopher Parker, Programme Manager for Project Development Support with the Interreg NPA Programme, who joined the discussions and provided valuable insights as the partnership embarks on its collaborative journey.

DC NEST has been established to help regional communities prepare for the rapid expansion of data centres and other energy-intensive industries across the Northern Periphery and Arctic area. As demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow, the project seeks to ensure that local authorities, communities and stakeholders are equipped to maximise opportunities while addressing associated challenges in a sustainable and strategic manner.

Working through a transnational cooperation model, the project focuses on three key pillars:

Developing sustainable data centre ecosystem models to enhance municipal investment readiness and support informed decision-making.
Strengthening local capacity and stakeholder engagement through structured dialogue and knowledge exchange between regions.
Delivering a strategic framework that will guide future policy development and planning for data centre ecosystems across the NPA region.

The kick-off meeting marked the beginning of a productive collaboration between partners, combining regional expertise and shared learning to develop practical solutions that can support sustainable economic growth and resilience in Northern Periphery and Arctic communities.

ERNACT looks forward to working with project partners over the coming years and sharing updates on the progress, outcomes and impact of the DC NEST project.

Click here to email Maixa Zabaleta at ERNACT for further information

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