Vienna re-imagines the digital future
November 10, 2026|NH
The City of Vienna has adopted a data centre strategy that establishes clear principles for the responsible development of digital infrastructure across the city.
Building on this strategy, STRABAG Real Estate and the Vienna Business Agency are working together to bring forward the first infrastructure project of its kind in Seestadt Aspern.
Demand for computing power in Austria’s economy is growing rapidly. According to a study by EcoAustria, nationwide demand currently stands at around 419 megawatts of IT capacity, while domestic supply amounts to just 80 to 100 megawatts. In Vienna alone, demand is projected to reach approximately 250 megawatts by 2030.
At the same time, new data centres place significant demands on energy supply, available space and urban infrastructure. The City of Vienna is addressing these challenges with a new data centre strategy that provides clear guidelines for expanding this essential infrastructure responsibly. The strategy focuses on digital independence, strengthening Vienna as a business and research location, and using energy, water and land resources responsibly. A proposed project in Seestadt Aspern demonstrates how these principles could be put into practice.
Strategic partnership for Vienna as a business location
A project in Seestadt Aspern, in northeastern Vienna, is set to put Vienna’s data centre strategy into practice. STRABAG Real Estate and the Vienna Business Agency are joining forces to advance a modular data centre project with a planned electrical grid connection capacity of up to 48 megawatts. The facility is to be expanded gradually in line with actual demand.
According to EcoAustria, the planned data centre is expected to generate around €350 million in domestic investment. It is also projected to contribute approximately €264 million in domestic value added during the construction phase and around €30 million annually once operational.
The Vienna Business Agency holds a five per cent stake in the project development company, ensuring that Vienna’s strategic interests are represented throughout the development process. These interests are safeguarded through contractual agreements and shareholder rights. This approach ensures that economic benefits, resource efficiency and digital sovereignty are integral to the data centre development process from the outset.
Strengthening digital sovereignty and expanding choice
STRABAG Real Estate and the Vienna Business Agency have agreed that the data centre will be operated exclusively by a European provider. This will expand European data centre infrastructure, giving businesses and research institutions greater choice while reducing existing dependencies. A diverse mix of local, regional and European computing infrastructure will strengthen Vienna’s technological independence and capacity to act in the long term.
Environmental sustainability in operations
Vienna’s strategy focuses not on building as many data centres as possible, but on providing the right capacity in the right locations. Key priorities include the efficient use of energy, water and land, a reliable infrastructure supply, and tangible benefits for businesses and research institutions.
Resource efficiency is a key priority. STRABAG Real Estate is planning the data centre in Seestadt Aspern with a cooling system that uses a closed water circuit –without evaporation. Waste heat generated during operation is intended to be fed into Vienna’s district heating network. According to a model calculation by EcoAustria, a data centre of comparable size could generate around 108 gigawatt-hours of recoverable waste heat annually, which is enough to meet the heating needs of approximately 12,700 households.
The Seestadt Aspern data centre project is in the planning stages. Before construction can begin, an investor and a suitable European operator must be secured, the necessary permits obtained and final agreements reached. Information events for local residents are also planned during the next phase of the project.
Vienna Business Agency: Central point of contact for future data centre operators
The Vienna Business Agency will serve as the central point of contact for existing and prospective data centre operators. The City of Vienna is thus laying the groundwork for the development of sustainable, long-term computing infrastructure that serves the interests of its residents. The central point of contact supports strategically important projects and facilitates coordination with municipal departments and infrastructure providers.
For enquiries or information about establishing data centre infrastructure in Vienna, please contact: clearingstelle-rechenzentren@wirtschaftsagentur.at