Siemens is investing in Spain to boost its data center business with the opening of a new hub.

Siemens is betting on Spain to boost its data center business. Fernando Silva , President and CEO of Siemens Spain, announced during the AI ​​Barometer for Industry and Infrastructure in Spain conference, organized by elEconomista.es, that "we have been part of the industrial, energy, and technological development of this country, shoulder to shoulder with the administrations, universities, customers, and ecosystem partners. Our goal is to continue doing so, and therefore, I am pleased to officially announce that Siemens has decided to open a data center technology hub in Spain, located in Tres Cantos (Madrid), with a satellite team in Aragon. It will operate as an innovation center for the sector and its workforce is expected to grow to 30 people over the next three years. This will be a hub of knowledge, capacity, and talent that will allow us to shape the future of the digital and smart infrastructure market. It is a direct investment in innovation, skilled employment, and technological sovereignty for Spain." Regarding talent, Silva noted that "this new opening will help increase our commitment to local talent, which in the last decade has resulted in the addition of more than 1,300 digital profiles to our teams."

The launch comes amid unprecedented expansion in the data center market, with an expected compound annual growth rate of over 20%. In Europe, planned investments in the sector are in the millions, and Spain is one of the main destinations, given its unbeatable location, availability of renewable energy, and connectivity, making it a prime location for this type of investment. Siemens believes that "this will be yet another example of our commitment to promoting local innovation, adding to the more than €65 million invested in Spain over the last five years . This will also include the incorporation of Spanish software companies and the opening of various competence centers. All of this is because we firmly believe in Spain's potential and because we know that digitalization and artificial intelligence are not a threat, but rather an unprecedented opportunity to industrialize and make production processes sustainable."

Artificial Intelligence is making headlines; it's a key issue for all companies. "75% of Spanish companies have already begun their journey in implementing artificial intelligence . This is a very significant figure, but the question we must ask ourselves is what about the other 27%, although it's true that these companies are beginning to define roadmaps and launch projects, and are even trying to integrate this technology into their organizations," Silva explained about the results. This barometer was conducted during the months of January and March 2025 through a questionnaire. At the end of the consultation period, around 250 responses were obtained from professionals holding senior positions in companies in the industrial, technology, infrastructure, and energy sectors. "This report was born with a clear ambition, which is to shed light on how companies are adopting AI, where they are encountering barriers, and, above all, where they are headed in this new era of transformation," the executive noted.

Silva was clear during his presentation, "AI is not a promise for the future, it is a present reality and we find ourselves at a turning point, since two out of three executives plan to increase their investment in AI in the next three years. The reason is not to be left behind, because they know that whoever does not get on this train simply will not be at the next station. However , there are significant challenges, the clearest being the lack of qualified profiles and internal teams to lead this transition. And this issue is precisely more evident in SMEs. In fact, almost 60% of those surveyed acknowledge that they do not yet have a specific team in charge of implementing AI and that, as a country, is an outstanding issue." Along these lines, " 93% of executives believe that AI will help reduce costs and improve decision-making . On the other hand, 86% are convinced that it will open up new business opportunities, and 40% point directly to increased productivity as a key driver. All of this shows that AI is seen not only as a tool for efficiency and productivity, but as a lever for growth in sectors."

"In Spain, the potential is enormous. Generative AI could contribute up to €20 billion to GDP over the next decade and improve productivity in key sectors such as commerce, healthcare, public administration, and infrastructure, among others. Furthermore, it is estimated that more than 1,200,000 jobs will be created; in other words, we're not talking about job losses; we're talking about changing the profile of workers, increasingly focused on the digital economy, but without ceasing to think about the country's industrialization," argued the Siemens executive. He added that "Spain is consolidating itself as a key European country in this area. It is estimated that data center capacity could reach between 1,600 and 1,900 megawatts by 2030, which represents annual growth of between 25% and 30%."

Silva also focused on the importance of sustainability and energy savings. "Furthermore, the growth in its energy demand will quadruple by 2030. In some situations, this is an excuse to say that it's a sector that doesn't contribute positively to society, which I think is incorrect, since it will allow us to make much better use of our renewable surpluses, moving toward a more sustainable and intelligent model ," he said. Regarding sustainability, "AI is becoming an ally and can contribute to the quality of life for all of us," Silva expressed. He added a reflection: "We have been talking about technological disruption for decades, but the truth is that it is unlike any other revolution, as its speed, its capacity for adaptation, and its multiplier effect become something radically different. Today, a small improvement in a model can produce results that surpass human labor, and in specific tasks, in a matter of weeks ."

The barometer also makes it clear: "Collaboration will be key, because no company can take this path alone. In fact, one in three executives still believes they can do so without technological partners, but experience tells us otherwise, as the future is collaborative and we must be open to creating alliances and sharing knowledge. We are all aware that we have to unite, and universities are also included here, because there is a lot of talent and many patents are generated in universities," he argued. He added that "we must address this urgently if we do not want this revolution to remain in the hands of a few."

In short, this AI benchmark is more than a study, as "it is a mirror in which we see ourselves and a thermometer to measure our digital maturity. Furthermore, it is also a compass that points toward an inevitable future full of possibilities. At Siemens, we are convinced that artificial intelligence will be a driver of economic growth, skilled employment, and competitiveness for all of Spain. Thus, with the opening of our new data center, we reinforce this commitment with actions, not words. And we will continue to invest in this land and innovate."