One of the world's fastest growing technology companies, NEXTDC, is investing in excess of $100 million in a state-of-the-art data centre, known as 'A1', to be established in the heart of Adelaide's central business district, creating 150 jobs.
NEXTDC is an Australian-owned and run ASX Top 100 technology company. Recognised as Australia's leading data centre solutions provider, NEXTDC will invest more than $100 million into the state, further expanding its digital infrastructure platform and adding key technology capability to South Australia's world-class hi-tech ecosystem.
Premier Steven Marshall said the decision by NEXTDC to invest in South Australia further strengthens the state's global hi-tech capabilities and capacity to attract leading technology companies.
"We have been working very closely with NEXTDC to bring them to South Australia for some time, and I'm absolutely thrilled they have chosen Adelaide as the city they want to invest and create jobs in," Premier Marshall said.
"Their investment will go beyond the creation of the data centre to include the opportunity for collaboration with our state's universities, ensuring a pipeline of skilled workers for the future.
"It's also fantastic that this central city location will enable the company to continue to service their customers, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure - who have all recently established in Adelaide.
"As a company, NEXTDC is also passionate about energy sustainability and the renewable economy, very much aligning with our Government's commitment to the circular economy."
A1 will be a first of its kind for South Australia. The facility will be certified to Uptime Institute Tier IV standards, offering completely fault tolerant capability to organisations and an industry only 100 per cent up-time guarantee. The word-class facility will also include an 'Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre' (EIC) and Mission Critical Operational space (MCX).
The world-class, 24/7 secured data centre will cultivate local technology expertise and will further enhance South Australia's global reputation for hi-tech, including capabilities around artificial intelligence, data analytics and cyber security. Furthermore, A1 will introduce a sovereign capability to the state that is critical to the future of the defence and hi-tech industries.
The EIC will be a springboard for innovation that links South Australia's academic and business communities, while offering cloud services for the world's leading technology companies, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM and Oracle.
Minister for Trade and Investment Stephen Patterson highlighted the state's global reputation in hi-tech capabilities has once again attracted a world-leading tech company to the state.
"South Australia is firmly on the global hi-tech stage – Our reputation for providing an innovative ecosystem of like-minded international companies, coupled with our standing as the world's third most liveable city, just speaks for itself," Minister Patterson said.
"NEXTDC is in good company here in Adelaide with the likes of Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, the Australian Institute for Machine Learning and the MIT bigdata Living Lab.
"It's always exciting to see investment coming into the state and with NEXTDC we will benefit from their passion for sustainability which aligns with our commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050."
NEXTDC has been in negotiations with the City of Adelaide to secure the purchase of land for the construction of its new world-class data centre facility.
"We are honoured to have been selected by the City of Adelaide to develop this strategic site into a new world-class technology centre of excellence," Mr Craig Scroggie, CEO of NEXTDC said.
"We are excited to be a part of the growing ecosystem of leading technology companies that are investing in the South Australian economy. Our partnership with the South Australian Government was instrumental in developing our long-term strategy to support the growth of the state".
"This digital infrastructure development represents an important investment for South Australia that will further support and accelerate the growth of the South Australian Government's Digital Transformation Strategy."
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor welcomed NEXTDC's arrival in Adelaide.
"As a city that is focused on building greater digital capabilities and attracting a broad range of businesses and investment, NEXTDC is precisely the type of business we want to see based here," the Lord Mayor said.
"Not only will the sale of 211 Pirie Street see a company with a strong global reputation further cement Adelaide's reputation as an affordable and innovative place to do business, the investment will be responsibly used for the growth of the city.
"Today's announcement is also a great example of two levels of government working in partnership and I want to thank and acknowledge the State Government for its commitment to attracting new investment to our city."
Green Industries South Australia's Chief Executive Ian Overton, said: "South Australia's leadership in sustainability, renewable energy and circular economy is helping to attract companies like NEXTDC to invest in South Australia.
"We are looking forward to helping NEXTDC make this data centre a leading example of sustainability in action, adopting circular economy principles to reduce waste, use recycled content and reduce carbon emissions."
NEXTDC's corporate operations and its data centre solutions are certified 100 per cent carbon neutral under the Australian Federal Government's Climate Active scheme. NEXTDC's data centre design and operations are also recognised in a case study produced by the Climate Council of Australia.
For further information about NEXTDC, visit www.nextdc.com
For further information about South Australia's hi-tech capabilities, visit www.invest.sa.gov.au/ai
