Tenerife is set to take a major step into the world of artificial intelligence and advanced computing with plans for a new AI and supercomputing hub that could generate more than 500 highly qualified jobs and position the island as a technology leader in southern Europe.
The project, presented by the Cabildo de Tenerife and technology company Bechtle, will combine traditional supercomputing, accelerated artificial intelligence and private cloud services within a single platform.
The infrastructure will be powered by next-generation Dell PowerEdge systems, AMD EPYC processors and NVIDIA H200 accelerators, alongside a storage capacity of more than 6.7 petabytes.
Cabildo President Rosa Dávila described the initiative as a strategic investment that will help Tenerife attract international projects, generate employment and create opportunities for local talent.
“We are talking about attracting investment, generating up to 500 qualified jobs and offering opportunities to our talent. It is a strategic commitment so that Tenerife does not simply consume technology, but develops it and exports it,” she said.
A Technology Hub for Southern Europe
As part of the proposal, Bechtle plans to establish the Bechtle HPC & AI Hub South Europe (B-HAIS) in Tenerife.
The centre would manage supercomputing projects for clients across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and other European countries, serving a network of more than 70,000 corporate customers.
The hub will operate from two locations:
• A mission-critical technical centre at the ITER facilities in Granadilla.
• A corporate and innovation headquarters at the Tenerife Science and Technology Park in Cuevas Blancas.
Four Strategic Areas
The new centre will focus on four key sectors:
• Artificial intelligence and data science.
• Advanced engineering and digital simulations.
• Media, entertainment and video game rendering.
• Applied sciences, including astrophysics, volcanology and natural risk research.
The project is also expected to strengthen Tenerife’s position within international research and innovation networks.
Training and Employment Opportunities
Bechtle plans to grow its workforce from 25 employees in the first year to around 200 by year five.
At least 70% of these positions are expected to be filled by people living in or originating from the Canary Islands, with all contracts offered on a permanent basis.
The company will also introduce training programmes linked to Germany’s dual education model, giving Canarian students access to paid placements in AI laboratories in Germany.
€33 Million Investment
The technology group expects to invest approximately €33 million throughout the duration of the project.
Funding will support infrastructure development, talent recruitment, startup acceleration programmes and the creation of a future Bechtle-ITER Chair for Supercomputing and Artificial Intelligence.
The platform will operate under European data protection and security regulations and aims to provide a European alternative to major US cloud providers.
For Tenerife, the project represents one of the most ambitious technology initiatives ever proposed on the island, combining innovation, research, employment and international investment in a single ecosystem.