AU Foulum will be getting new and exciting neighbours on the fields that have hitherto been used for growing agricultural crops. The computer giant Apple has decided to build a very large data centre next door to Aarhus University’s Research Centre Foulum, a short distance from Viborg.

- This decision is greatly welcomed by us and we look forward to good neighbourly relations, to good cooperation and to the many exciting possibilities that this decision will undoubtedly generate, says Dean Niels C. Nielsen from the Faculty of Science and Technology at Aarhus University.

The data centre will be built on an area currently owned by the Danish Building & Property Agency and used by AU Foulum. The Building & Property Agency and Aarhus University have agreed in close dialogue with Viborg municipality and Invest in Denmark to cede the necessary land for the new centre.

- In connection with the selection of the area there have been several meetings and a very positive dialogue. We are very happy with our new neighbours. There are potential future opportunities for collaboration, but at this still very early stage there are no concrete collaboration agreements between the company and the university, says Niels Chr. Nielsen and continues:

- In addition to the potential linked with any direct cooperation, the growth that Apple’s establishment here will generate in the area around Viborg and the company’s need to attract highly skilled employees will in itself have a positive influence on AU Foulum.

Research opportunities

In the longer term, the dean does not deny that a research partnership with the new company could come to fruition.

- The Faculty of Science and Technology has very strong activities in a number of relevant computer science areas, says Niels Chr. Nielsen.

Another area that Apple is interested in is sustainable energy. Apple has held several meetings with researchers at AU Foulum to hear about the possibilities for covering part of their energy requirement with renewable energy.

- Apple shares Aarhus University’s vision on sustainability and is very committed to using sustainable, renewable energy. They have therefore been very interested in our knowledge in this area, says Morten Dam Rasmussen, who is Deputy Head of the Department of Engineering.

- Sustainable green energy is a major research area at AU and Foulum houses the world's largest experimental plant for biogas production and related facilities. Right now we are carrying out a number of major research projects in the field of sustainable green energy. The engineers from Apple have been very interested in this research, says Morten Dam Rasmussen.

For further information please contact:

Dean Niels Christian Nielsen, Science and Technology, email: dean.scitech@au.dk, telephone: +45 8715 5913, mobile: +45 2899 2541

Deputy Head Morten Dam Rasmussen, Department of Engineering, e-mail: mdr@eng.au.dk, mobile: +45 2515 2755