Who Benefits from Data Centers?
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
4:00 PM–4:45 PM
Kirkkolava Stage
Data centers are critical infrastructure of the digital age. They power artificial intelligence, cloud services, and the digital applications we rely on every day. Finland is currently experiencing a record wave of data center investments, driven by clean electricity, a stable society, and a cool climate.
But who ultimately benefits from these investments? Will they create new expertise, jobs, and export industries in Finland, or will the greatest gains remain beyond our reach? Can waste heat from data centers become part of the solution for urban heating? And under what conditions can these investments generate tangible benefits for the local communities where data centers are built?
This panel brings together perspectives from business, energy, technology, and regional development. Together, we will explore how data centers can become a genuine Finnish success story that creates long-term value for society—and whose interests should guide that development.
The discussion will be moderated by Antti “Jogi” Poikola, Excecutive Director of the Finnish Data Center Association (FDCA). Panelists include Mikko Toivanen, Chairman of the Board at Polarnode; Asta Sihvonen-Punkka, President and CEO of Fingrid; Ville Merinen, Member of Parliament (SDP); Tuomas Särkilahti, CEO of Skanska Oy; and Karoliina Partanen, CEO of AI Finland.