Google is Coming to Hessen

“As an economic development agency, our goal is to provide long-term support for, and enhance, the digital ecosystem so as to ensure enterprises have the best possible conditions for developing innovative business models, products, and services,” he continues.

The perfect location for data centers

Rapid developments in artificial intelligence in particular are both a challenge and an opportunity for this location. “The ability to process and store vast amounts of data are critical success factors in AI development. Hessen is in a very strong position here. Forty percent of total German colocation data center capacity is located here,” says Dr. Carsten Ott, Head of HTAI’s Technology & Innovation Department. Thanks to DE-CIX, the world’s largest Internet exchange, Hessen offers ideal conditions for innovative enterprises. “But it's not just about being close to the exchange point – other factors play a key role as well. The region is easily accessible, which makes it attractive for executives,” underlines Dr. David Eckensberger. He heads HTAI’s International Affairs Department – the unit responsible for location marketing. The excellent digitalization and AI research environment, whose extremely strong reputation stretches far beyond state and national borders, is another reason why cutting-edge firms choose to settle here. Dr. Eckensberger again: “Innovative IT companies such as e-shelter, arago, and Software AG are further proof of how attractive this location is, and of Hessen’s successful network. This can also be seen from the large number of international IT firms asking us how to establish a presence here.”

“As an economic development agency, we are delighted by Google’s decision to set up operations in Dietzenbach and Erlensee. We will work to ensure that this becomes an additional seedbed for networked, cross-sector cooperation,” say Waldschmidt, Eckensberger, and Ott in unison.