Rio announces “Rio AI City” project: the largest data center hub in Latin America and one of the ten largest in the world

During the opening of Web Summit Rio 2025 — when it was also announced that the event would remain in the city until 2030 —, Mayor Eduardo Paes officially launched the “Rio AI City” project, which will transform Rio de Janeiro into the largest data center hub in Latin America and one of the ten largest in the world.

Planned for the Olympic Park region, the project envisages the construction of a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence campus, with an initial capacity of 1,8 gigawatts by 2027 and expansion to 3 gigawatts by 2032, powered entirely by clean energy and with an unlimited supply of water. It will be a first-of-its-kind infrastructure, designed to redefine global standards for sustainable technology.

– Every year we gather here with the same goal: to transform Rio into the Innovation Capital of Latin America. Today, we celebrate new milestones on this journey. First, this big announcement that makes me especially proud: five more editions of the Web Summit — ensuring that we will welcome you all by 2030. This really shows that we want everyone here in Rio. Everyone in Rio. To come and to stay. As you all know, the world is experiencing an unprecedented technological acceleration. Here in Rio, we are not just observers. We want to drive the AI ​​revolution and ensure that it serves the public well. That is why, today, I am also very happy to announce that we will build the ‘Rio AI City’. The largest data center hub in Latin America and one of the largest in the world -, said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

The “Rio AI City” will directly support innovation driven by artificial intelligence. The initiative will also create ideal conditions for the installation of new supercomputers, such as the existing Santos Dumont, located at the LNCC (National Laboratory for Scientific Computing) and managed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

With high resilience and real-time data transmission (zero latency), “Rio AI City” will be directly connected to Porto Maravilha — reinforcing Rio’s urban and technological integration strategy.

Olympic Park and Porto Maravilha: connected for a sustainable future

Although “Rio AI City” is designed for the Olympic Park, its connection with Porto Maravilha will be fundamental to consolidate the new ecosystem of innovation and quality of life planned for the city.

In Porto, the Mata Maravilha project will create a space of over 200 square meters that will integrate nature and technology: a new marina, two parks, four hotels, two green residential towers, a convention center, two entertainment venues, dozens of restaurants and a shopping mall. Everything is designed for sustainable innovation, connecting startups and companies directly to the computing power of the future “Rio AI City”.

Porto Maravilha is already home to IMPA Tech — the main Brazilian college of applied mathematics — and Porto Maravalley, an innovation hub that is now a reference in the country.

– In Rio, sustainable innovation and mixed-use areas will transform not only the future of technology, but also the future of urban life -, reinforces the Mayor.

Event expected to inject 1,8 billion reais into Rio's economy by 2030

In addition to reinforcing the city's international projection, the Web Summit is also recognized for generating significant economic activity in the cities that host it. According to a study conducted by the City Hall, through the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development, Invest.Rio and Riotur, the total estimated economic impact of the eight editions scheduled until 2030 is R$1,8 billion. The 2025 edition alone is expected to inject more than R$170 million into the city's economy, with a focus on the hospitality sector.

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April 27th 2025

Appointments: data centers Innovation News Rio AI City Rio Web Summit technology