Portugal to Build €5.1 Million Data Center for Supercomputing on University of Minho Campus
May 12, 2026
Portugal to Build €5.1 Million Data Center for Supercomputing on University of Minho Campus
A new data center designed to house a supercomputer and support high-performance computing is set to be built in Guimarães, Portugal, marking a significant investment in the country's scientific infrastructure. The €5.1 million ($5.9 million) facility will be located on the Azurém campus of the University of Minho, with construction led by the Portuguese firm DST and expected to conclude in September of this year.
The project, designated as the National Center for Advanced Computing’s data center, is classified as strategic infrastructure for Portugal’s scientific and technological ecosystem. Sponsored by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the facility is designed to host high-performance computing equipment dedicated to science, technology, and innovation. Among the planned systems are resources from the University of Minho, national and European supercomputers, as well as telecommunications equipment supporting the Science, Technology, and Society Network (RCTS), which connects higher education institutions and research centers across Portugal.
The data center is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) under the Science Plus Digital investment initiative. DST described the project 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 is also expected to enhance Guimarães’ international profile as a technology hub, facilitating the hosting of conferences, innovation events, and initiatives related to the digital economy.
Beyond its scientific and technological impact, the new data center is anticipated to contribute to strengthening the region’s digital ecosystem. DST added that the infrastructure is expected to create conditions to attract technology-based companies and startups, stimulating the creation of skilled jobs, particularly in network engineering, cybersecurity, systems management, and specialized maintenance.
Source: datacenterdynamics
