Brazil Eyes Global Hub Status for AI-Driven Digital Infrastructure

The report, commissioned by Scala Data Centers and Norgás, outlines an ambitious trajectory to scale Brazil’s digital infrastructure from 1 GW to 13.7 GW by 2035. This expansion could attract up to US$698.5 billion in investment, funneling capital into everything from high-tech cooling systems and AI accelerators to foundational civil construction. Beyond hardware, the researchers project the creation of 230,000 permanent jobs, with nearly 60,000 roles dedicated specifically to data center operations.

Charles Schramm, Executive Project Manager at FGV, emphasizes that these facilities act as economic catalysts rather than mere tech sites. By utilizing an Input-Output Matrix model, the study highlights how data centers pull the entire supply chain—including telecommunications, logistics, and specialized engineering—into a cycle of long-term productivity. However, the path to becoming a global hub is not guaranteed. The study points to a high domestic tax burden and the need for greater regulatory coordination as primary hurdles. To bridge the competitive gap with established clusters like Singapore or Virginia, the FGV proposes a unified national policy that treats data centers as strategic infrastructure, integrating them more effectively into the country’s power grid planning. As Luciano Fialho of Scala Data Centers notes, Brazil’s combination of abundant renewable energy and available land provides a rare competitive edge that, if managed with stable policy, could redefine the nation's role in the global digital economy.