Microsoft quadruples its investments in AI and cloud infrastructure in Spain to promote responsible and secure AI deployment in companies and public administration

In the main photo, from left to right: José Luis Escrivá, Minister of Digital Transformation; Pedro Sanchez, Head of Government; Brad Smith, President of Microsoft; Carol Ann Brown, Brad Smith's chief of staff; Alberto Granados, President of Microsoft Spain; and Natalia Escobedo, Public Sector Manager at Microsoft Spain

• The Head of Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, have defined a framework for cooperation regarding the application of artificial intelligence in public administration and the strengthening of national cybersecurity.
• Microsoft plans to quadruple its investments in Spain in 2023, reaching $2.1 billion by the end of 2025.

As part of Microsoft's commitment to promoting digital innovation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) that benefits Spanish companies and public administrations, the company plans to quadruple its investments in AI and cloud infrastructure in Spain during 2024-2025, reaching $2.1 billion. This represents Microsoft's largest investment in Spain during its 37 years of presence in the country.

Microsoft will soon open a data center cloud region located in the Community of Madrid, and has announced its intention to create a data center park in Aragon serving European companies and public bodies. These two infrastructures will provide Microsoft cloud services with maximum guarantees of security, privacy and data sovereignty, and will make it possible to make the full range of the company's AI solutions available to Spanish and European companies and public administrations. Microsoft's data centers in Spain could add €8.4 billion to the national GDP and contribute to the creation of 69,000 jobs in the period 2026-2030, according to an IDC analysis.

This investment obligation falls within The cooperation framework established today by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, and the President of Microsoft, Brad Smith. Microsoft and the Government of Spain will work together to apply responsible AI to improve citizen services, encourage AI-driven innovation, as well as strengthen national cybersecurity and cyber resilience for Spanish businesses, public institutions and critical infrastructure.

The collaboration was established within the framework of the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and the National Strategy for Cybersecurity defined by the Government of Spain, and is structured around four lines of action:

• • Expanding the use of artificial intelligence in public administration. With the aim of modernizing administrative processes and providing officials with the necessary AI tools to increase their efficiency and effectiveness, good practices will be exchanged, both for the deployment of generative AI solutions in public administration, as well as for training plans in AI. For civil servants, in line with strategic cases for the use of AI for specific roles identified by the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Service.
  • Promote the use of responsible AI. Microsoft will share its Responsible AI Design Standards, as well as implementation guides and additional documentation on best practices in this area, with the Spanish AI Monitoring Agency (AESIA).
  • Strengthening national cybersecurity. In order to enhance national cybersecurity and, specifically, cyber resilience of critical infrastructures, Microsoft and the Center for National Intelligence's National Cryptographic Center (CNI-CCN) will explore improving early warning and response mechanisms for computer security incidents in public administrations.
  • – Improving the cyber resilience of companies. With the aim of improving the security of Spanish companies, especially SMEs, Microsoft will collaborate with the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), providing access to global telemetry and information on potential threats and cyberattacks that may affect Spanish companies and public administrations. Likewise, joint cybersecurity deployment procedures targeting SMEs and citizens will be created.

Tags: general management, cloud, data centers, artificial intelligence, cloud area