Nvidia The company is acting as a matchmaker, trying to match companies with graphics processing equipment with data center operators with the ability to deploy it in Northern Europe, people familiar with the matter told CNBC.
While establishing a de facto monopoly over the most powerful AI chips, Nvidia has been working to exert even greater influence across the AI ecosystem as the race to build infrastructure accelerates. This ranges from software stacks, government relations, and direct investments in other companies.
Semiconductor giants are also exploring a role in AI infrastructure deals. Two sources familiar with the matter told CNBC that NVIDIA has offered to introduce companies with data centers in Northern Europe, an increasingly sought-after region for AI infrastructure, to companies deploying its GPUs in the capacity market.
The officials asked to remain anonymous when discussing personal information.
How Nvidia is acting as a matchmaker for AI infrastructure
Their explanation adds context to comments from Nvidia Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress, who said in June that Nvidia was “certainly working” on “matching” companies. “How can they get land, power and shells?” she added. “How can we help them in terms of ramping up computing for the work they need to do as quickly as possible?”
Thanks to access to electricity and fertile land, gigawatts of data center capacity will be built in Northern Europe in the coming years. Neocloud and hyperscalers Nevius and microsoft A contract was signed in the region in 2026.
One source said NVIDIA has reached out to data center companies and approached them with potential offtakers, or customers who commit to buying or leasing computing capacity.
This is part of what Nvidia considers its “value proposition to GPU customers,” the people said, adding that the semiconductor giant “in many cases” does not reveal the names of the companies it reaches out on its behalf.
Another source told CNBC that NVIDIA has also made introductions between companies building AI infrastructure and GPU-equipped companies in the U.S. and Asia. Nvidia added that it is “helping people with money and GPU needs also secure data center space.”
Nvidia did not respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
The company typically sells its chips to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who then integrate them into racks and servers before selling them. But it often has to do with the company that buys the final product.
Why Scandinavia is attracting AI data centers
While access to power and land attracts builders to Scandinavia, the cooler climate is also attractive as data centers need to prevent chips from overheating.
In recent months, a number of multi-hundred megawatt facilities have been announced in Finland and Norway.
Pure DC announced in July that it would invest 1.5 billion euros ($1.74 billion) to build a 110 MW campus in Finland, with the potential to expand beyond 550 MW. Arcem has plans for sites with up to 500 MW of capacity. In March, Nevius announced plans to build one of Europe’s largest AI factories in Finland.
Microsoft announced in April that it would occupy additional computing power at its Nscale site in Norway.
According to Norwegian power grid operator Statnet, 2.3 GW of data center capacity is currently on standby for future connection to the power grid.
Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki are among the world’s top six locations for future data center development, according to a report from real estate firm Savills this month.
Rupert Duckworth, associate director of EMEA data center advisory at Savills, said in the report: “The Nordic countries offer one of the clearest propositions globally when it comes to AI-driven data center growth.”
“The region has become the focus of large-scale AI-oriented development, with a major new campus currently under construction.”
