Submer to invest over €1 billion in AI data center in Catalonia

Barcelona-headquartered Submer Group has announced an investment of more than €1 billion to build a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Flix, in southern Catalonia. The project will transform the former Ercros industrial site into a large-scale AI infrastructure campus, reinforcing Catalonia's position as a leading European hub for digital infrastructure and AI.

The new facility will provide the critical infrastructure required to power the next generation of AI applications, including energy capacity, advanced cooling systems, and high-performance computing facilities. As demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow across Europe, the project is expected to support the development of sovereign AI capabilities while strengthening Catalonia's digital economy.

The data center will be developed and operated by Rubix Data Centers, a Submer Group company specializing in AI data center campuses. The announcement was made during a ceremony led by the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, together with the Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper.

“Submer Group is proud to be part of the reindustrialization of Flix and the positioning of Spain as a leader in AI infrastructure development”

Patrick Smets, CEO of Submer Group

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Sustainable AI infrastructure

The Flix campus has been designed using Submer's latest liquid cooling technology, enabling highly energy-efficient operations while requiring no water during normal operation. The company says this approach significantly improves the sustainability of AI computing, one of the fastest-growing segments of digital infrastructure.

The project will be developed in two phases under the Government of Catalonia's reindustrialization initiative, which aims to give new industrial life to former manufacturing sites. Once fully operational, the campus is expected to create up to 150 permanent skilled jobs, including positions in operations, engineering, facilities management, maintenance, security, and technical support.

Patrick Smets, CEO of Submer Group, highlighted the strategic importance of the investment: "As a European company, Submer Group is proud to be part of the reindustrialization of Flix, and the positioning of Spain as a leader in AI infrastructure development."

“The Flix site has notable industrial heritage, and it is where our vision for AI infrastructure can start to take shape. As demand accelerates, we will expand across the full stack, from land and power to cloud and edge, and we are building where it creates the most lasting value. Returning this site to productive use, with durable infrastructure and long-term local partnerships, is exactly the kind of initiative we want to be known for”, Smets added.

John Eland, CEO of Rubix Data Centers, emphasized the company's long-term commitment to the region: "We intend to operate the facility we are building here, so we are not simply passing through Flix. Instead, we are committing to Flix for the long term, working alongside the local community and the administration, and creating skilled local jobs."

A Barcelona-born global AI infrastructure leader

Founded in Barcelona in 2015, Submer Group has become a global specialist in AI infrastructure, developing technologies that address some of the industry's biggest challenges, including power availability, thermal management, deployment speed, and data sovereignty.

The company has already deployed more than 500 MW of liquid-cooled infrastructure worldwide and manages over 8 GW of powered land across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. In addition to its Barcelona headquarters, Submer operates major hubs in Houston and Taipei.

The investment further strengthens Catalonia's growing ecosystem for digital infrastructure, AI, and advanced technology, while demonstrating the region's ability to attract large-scale strategic investments in future-oriented industries.