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With a record investment of €3.6 billion and over 3,000 jobs planned, the new ‘Altamira’ tech campus is officially the first Strategic Business Project in Cantabria.
Cantabria is preparing for a historic leap into the digital era. The regional government has declared the development of the ‘Altamira’ Data Center Technology Campus as its first Strategic Business Project under the Administrative Simplification Act. This ambitious project, led by the investment group Stoneshied, includes an investment of over €3.6 billion—the largest ever made in the community—and the creation of more than 1,500 direct jobs during its construction and another 1,450 during its operational phase.
The complex, covering an area of 637,000 square meters, will be located in the municipalities of Piélagos and Villaescusa, and will be developed in three phases, with the goal of being fully operational by 2032. The campus will focus on housing large data centers, artificial intelligence, and cloud services, aiming to become one of the largest and most advanced in Europe.
A Strategic Opportunity for Cantabria
The regional president, María José Sáenz de Buruaga, has described this initiative as a “historic opportunity that we cannot miss.” She explained that its economic impact is comparable to 25% of the regional GDP, and its catalytic potential will attract top-tier technology companies like Meta or Google.
In addition to generating wealth and employment, the project is designed to drive the transformation of Cantabria’s productive fabric, facilitating the establishment of innovative industries, research and development centers, and collaborative digital ecosystems.
Energy Efficiency and Connectivity as Strengths
One of the main attractions of the Altamira project is its focus on energy efficiency. Thanks to Cantabria’s mild, humid climate, the campus will not require water for cooling and will be able to take advantage of natural ventilation, making it one of the most sustainable data centers in Spain.
Additionally, it boasts a strategic location for connectivity: close to high-capacity fiber optic networks and the path of the world’s most powerful submarine fiber cable connecting Europe with the United States, just off the coast of Santander. The center will also have preferential access to the Penagos electrical substation, which is prepared to handle large energy demands.
Reduced Timelines and Public Commitment
The designation as a Strategic Business Project not only symbolizes institutional support for Altamira but also entails a 50% reduction in administrative timelines, thanks to the expedited processing outlined in the Common Administrative Procedure Act.
The public company SICAN, along with SEPIDES (state-owned), sold the land to Stoneshied for €9.49 million, thus concluding a nearly two-decade period of inactivity on that industrial land.
Digital Sovereignty and Technological Future
One of the most relevant aspects of the Altamira project is its role in building European digital sovereignty. Being fully located on national territory and complying with EU regulatory frameworks, the campus will enable the provision of cloud services and supercomputing without relying on foreign jurisdictions, which is especially crucial in the current geopolitical and regulatory context.
Moreover, it will offer advanced computing capabilities to universities and research centers, fostering scientific and technological development, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, and complex simulations.
Horizon 2032: A Connected, Innovative, and Strategic Cantabria
Construction for the first phase of the Altamira Campus is set to begin in January 2026, once the PSIR (Singular Project of Regional Interest) is approved, and subsequent phases are expected to commence in 2028. If timelines are met, in less than a decade, Cantabria will not only have reclaimed abandoned industrial land but will also have positioned itself on the European tech map as a key node for the new digital economy.
A project that represents not just an economic investment, but also a bet on the future, aligned with global challenges in technological sovereignty, sustainability, and digital transformation.
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