Amazon Web Services invests 7.8 billion euros in Brandenburg

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced its plans to invest €7.8 billion in the AWS European Sovereign Cloud in Germany through 2040, which reflects AWS’s long-term commitment to meeting Europe’s digital sovereignty needs. The AWS European Sovereign Cloud is planning to launch its first AWS Region in the State of Brandenburg, Germany, by the end of 2025, available to all customers.

AWS’s long-term investment is expected to lead to a ripple effect in the local cloud community, through accelerating productivity gains, empowering the digital transformation of businesses, empowering the AWS Partner Network (APN), upskilling the cloud and digital workforce, developing renewable energy projects, and creating a positive impact in the communities where AWS operates. In total, AWS’s planned investment is estimated to contribute €17.2 billion to Germany’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through 2040, and support an average 2,800 full-time equivalent jobs in local German businesses each year. These positions - including construction, facility maintenance, engineering, telecommunications, and other jobs within the broader local economy - are part of the AWS data centre supply chain.

In addition, AWS will also create new highly-skilled permanent roles to build and operate the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. These jobs will include software engineers, systems developers, and solutions architects. This is part of the commitment that all day-to-day operations of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud will be controlled exclusively by personnel located in the EU, including access to data centres, technical support, and customer service.

Continued investment in Europe

Over the past 25 years, economic development in European countries and communities has been driven forward and investments have been made in infrastructure, jobs and the expansion of expertise. Since 2010, Amazon has invested over 150 billion euros in the European Union and employs more than 150,000 people in permanent positions throughout the European single market. The AWS European Sovereign Cloud and the associated investments build on this long-term commitment to Europe and its digital future.

“This investment reinforces our commitment to offer customers the most advanced set of sovereignty controls, privacy safeguards, and security features available in the cloud. We're investing heavily in new local talent and infrastructure, which will help provide the operational sovereignty our customers require," said Max Peterson, Vice President of Sovereign Cloud at AWS. “This is an exciting milestone, and we're looking forward to the ways that our customers and partners across Europe will drive further innovation with the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.”

In Germany, AWS collaborates with local communities on long-term, innovative programmes to create a lasting impact in areas where its infrastructure is located. The focus is on developing cloud workforce and education initiatives for learners of all ages, addressing the skills gap and preparing for future tech jobs. For instance, AWS partnered with Siemens AG last year to design the first apprenticeship programme for AWS data centres in Germany and launched the first national cloud computing certification with the German Chamber of Commerce (DIHK), as well as the AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance in Germany. AWS will work closely with local partners to roll out these skills programmes and ensure they are tailored to regional needs

“High performing, reliable, and secure infrastructure is the most important prerequisite for an increasingly digitalised economy and society. Brandenburg is making progress here. In recent years, we have set on a course to invest in modern and sustainable data centre infrastructure in our state, strengthening Brandenburg as a business location,” said Prof. Dr. Jörg Steinbach, Brandenburg’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy. “State-of-the-art data centres for secure cloud computing are the basis for a strong digital economy. I am pleased Amazon Web Services (AWS) has chosen Brandenburg for a long-term investment in its cloud computing infrastructure for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.”

Capital region as a centre of innovation

The ICT, media and creative industries drive Berlin and Brandenburg forward, have a strong influence on other sectors and make the region ideal for digital transformation.
For more information on the economic development of the region's growth industries and on business and technology promotion for companies, investors and scientific institutions, please contact:

Sandra Koletzki ​​​​​​ | sandra.koletzki(at)airport-region.de

(Source: Amazon Deutschland Services GmbH, 05|15|2024 | “AWS’s investment reflects long-term commitment to meeting Europe's digital sovereignty requirements")