Aura plans €220m AI data centre in Coruche

Aura Technologies plans to invest €220 million in a 6.4 MW data centre for artificial intelligence training and inference in Coruche, in a project that would add new AI computing capacity in Portugal and serve as the first node in a wider decentralised network across Iberia and southern France.

The facility, to be built in the Sorraia Business Park, is expected to start operating by the end of 2027 and create about 30 jobs. According to the company, around 85% of the investment should be funded through debt and asset-backed financing, with the remaining roughly 15% coming from equity and convertible instruments subscribed by the group, partners and family offices. Aura said most of the financing structure is already agreed in principle, although final agreements are still pending.

Former IDC Portugal head Gabriel Coimbra is involved in the project as vice-president for AI infrastructure and strategy, while former National Security Office director António Gameiro Marques will act as non-executive director and adviser on security, resilience and sovereignty. Both are expected to hold equity stakes in the infrastructure.

The company says the Coruche site has been designed to use Nvidia Rubin chips and will operate under a business model based on hourly computing capacity reservations. Rather than targeting very large AI groups, the project is aimed at companies in sectors such as biotechnology and healthcare. Aura also plans at least two more data centres in Portugal, with 12 MW and 16 MW capacity, before expanding into Spain and southern France.

Municipal records reviewed by ECO show Coruche council approved the sale of the 7,209 square metre plot for €135,246.8 and granted tax incentives, including a 40% bonus linked to local economic and employment targets, as well as exemptions from IMT property transfer tax and IMI municipal property tax, subject to annual application.

Originally published at Eco.pt