< Previous46 MARCH 2025 SITE SELECTION Nate Glubish, Alberta Minister of Technology & Innovation Canadian history.” Palandjian says the campus “will have a trickle-down eff ect on the rest of the province. We see this as being transformative for Alberta and Canada. We want to have a minimum of two mega-projects. We think there will be a Wonder Valley in the U.S. as well. We are looking at sites in West Virginia and North Dakota now for agreements similar to the one we have in Greenview.” Meanwhile, he says, it’s full speed ahead in Canada. A partnership with Frank McCourt of McCourt Partners has been signed to infuse additional capital into the project, Palandjian notes. “He has a billion dollars of capital from Guggenheim. He has committed the fi rst $ million of capital toward the project that will go into the master plan and design of Wonder Valley over the next six months. We will complete due diligence on the geotechnical, water and power solutions and close on the land purchase in the next six to nine months. In parallel, we are assembling our team.” Next year, he says, will bring the permitting process and approvals, followed by groundbreaking in . “After that,” he says, “it will be to months to light up power.” Alberta Minister of Technology & Innovation Nate Glubish says his province is far from done in this sector. “We have another large data center campus being proposed,” he tells Site Selection. “We have over gigawatts of data centers and other power project proposals before us now. We are eager to work with the project proponents.” According to the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), there are currently data center projects representing , MW of demand in the queue, including four in the Calgary area with , MW of potential load. “Alberta’s policy is that we welcome data center investment,” says Minister Glubish. “Hundreds of millions of dollars are going to be invested. We released our AI data center strategy in December. Our intent is to be the destination of choice. We tell companies to come check out what we have to off er.” In the case of O’Leary Ventures, he says, “ ey came and kicked the tires and were pleased by what they found.” e kicker, he adds, is that “we are not off ering any provincial-level incentive programs because we don’t need to. Our value proposition is that we off er unlimited energy and a fast approval process. Time is money. We can give you the gift of time.” We will be paying one-third to one- fourth of what they will be paying for power in the U.S. at is a huge competitive advantage at GIG: producing power at scale at low cost.” — Paul Palandjian , CEO, O’Leary Ventures We will be paying one-third to one- SITE SELECTION MARCH 2025 47 S ince January 2023, Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database has documented more than 75 major corporate end-user facility projects with some connection to cybersecurity. They range from data centers addressing the needs of multiple industry verticals to full-scale office and software development labs connected to the AI revolution. While job creation totals aren’t available for all of them, the sum of job creation among the 50 or so that do have numbers comes to more than 11,400 positions. The United States is the far-and-away leader by number of projects, with more than 30. But a significant number with significant job totals attached (see chart) are landing in locations such as Canada (9) India (8) and Ireland (7). The largest job commitment among this set of projects is coming from Kaseya, which in March 2023 pledged to invest $16 million and create some 3,400 jobs in its home territory of Miami-Dade County, where that same year the company famously (and quickly) replaced the suddenly bankrupt FTX as the name adorning the arena of the NBA’s Miami Heat, now named Kaseya Center. Kaseya said the new jobs would have an average salary of $107,000. (The company’s open roles web page listed 88 Miami job openings in late January.) Company leaders at the time of the 2023 announcement touted the area’s talent base and pipeline, including work with Florida International University and its Remote IT and Security Management certification program and Miami Dade College’s cybersecurity program. As it happens, in a recent interview for Site Selection’s “Workforce 2025” publication, Shalin Jyotishi, the founder and managing director for the Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative at “nonpartisan think and action tank” New America, saluted both schools for their innovative practices. Miami Dade College, he says, “was one of the first community colleges in the country to create AI educational offerings,” including credit or non-credit, K-12 immersives, an associate’s degree and one of the first community college baccalaureates in applied AI. “They’ve built stackable pathways to it lends itself to career mobility,” he said of Miami-Dade. “Students graduate, go work for a while and then can come back. What’s really cool is they have articulation agreements with Florida International University for the bachelor’s and master’s program. At Miami-Dade their bachelor’s degree in data analytics folds up into an articulation agreement for a master’s degree program at FIU.” CYBERSECURITY Cybersecurity Investments Reaching ‘Unprecedented Levels’ by ADAM BRUNS adam.bruns@siteselection.com Illustration: Getty Images48 MARCH 2025 SITE SELECTION Insights from India’s New Wave Companies with cybersecurity- connected investments in India include such notables as Corning, Inc. (a -job R&D center in Pune, Maharashtra); CrowdStrike (also in Pune); Kyndryl and Open Text in Bengaluru, Karnataka; and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which is investing $ million in a hyperscale data center in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, that aims to provide multi-cloud cybersecurity, digital transformation and application integration services. e project will create direct jobs and is anticipated to help create indirect jobs. Headquartered in Mumbai, L&T Group is a conglomerate with capabilities across technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing. Among its divisions is L&T Technology Services (LTTS), which alone employs more than , employees across global design centers, global sales offi ces and innovation labs. Its customer base includes Fortune companies and of the world’s top ER&D companies across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom & hi- tech, and the process industries. LTTS launched what it called India’s fi rst integrated state-level Cyber Command and Control Center in Mumbai in October. e project, said the company, “encompasses the establishment of the Cyber Crime Command & Control Center, a Technology Assisted Investigation Center with advanced Digital Forensic tools, CERT – Maharashtra with AI-based reat Intelligence tools, state- of-the-art Security Operations Center and a Cyber Center of Excellence for capacity building and citizen awareness.” “L&T Technology Services is delighted to collaborate with the Maharashtra State Cyber Department on this groundbreaking project executed in a record time leveraging our experience in setting up and managing -plus Smart & Safe Cities command centers and Security Operation Centers,” said Amit Chadha, CEO and managing director of L&T Technology Services. Asked by email to expound on cyber momentum in India, Chadha fi rst puts things in context: “Global investments in cybersecurity are reaching unprecedented levels, with organizations prioritizing robust digital protections to address evolving threats and drive sustainable growth. In India, the country’s rapid technological growth is unlocking new opportunities for cybersecurity in the private and enterprise sectors, off ering signifi cant potential for innovation. is expansion also provides engineering (ER&D) players with avenues to drive R&D and new solutions, solidifying the country’s position as a global technology leader. “We view cybersecurity is becoming foundational to India’s smart city initiatives, as urban areas increasingly rely on secure digital ecosystems,” he continues. “ e Indian Government’s Digital India Mission, alongside advances in digital infrastructure, further fosters an environment for innovation and private-sector investment. ese factors have propelled India’s cybersecurity market, valued at $. billion in , to a projected growth at a CAGR of .%, reaching $. billion by . is underscores its status as one of the fastest- growing segments in the digital economy.” LTTS recognized this latent demand with its acquisition of Smart World & Communication (SWC) in early , Chadha says. “ is proactive move is already yielding results, highlighted by the $ million Maha Cyber project program implemented by LTTS. With an advanced command center in Mumbai, LTTS is delivering managed cybersecurity services that help enterprises mitigate risks and enhance resilience in today’s digital- fi rst environment.” CYBERSECURITY In India, the country’s rapid technological growth is unlocking new opportunities in the private and enterprise sectors, off ering signifi cant potential for innovation.” — Amit Chadha , CEO and Managing Director, L&T Technology Services In India, the country’s rapid technological growth is unlocking In the juggernaut that is the Indian economy — like anywhere else — talent and innovation are paramount, he says. “India’s course in cybersecurity is not only about securing its digital landscape but also realizing economic growth and workforce development,” Chadha writes. “While challenges persist — such as infrastructure upgrades, cyber threats, and a need for broader digital awareness — they also present opportunities for further innovation and investment. With rising corporate backing and strengths in talent and infrastructure, the sector’s domestic and global influence is poised to exponentially grow.” SELECTED GLOBAL PROJECTS WITH A CYBERSECURITY CONNECTION JANUARY 2023 – JANUARY 2024, SORTED BY JOB CREATION COMPANY COUNTRY STATE CITY JOBS Tpmg, Inc./Kaseya United States Florida Miami 3400 E & Enterprise Cloud Saudi Arabia Mintaqat ar Riyad Riyadh 1500 Booking Holdings Inc. India Karnataka Bengaluru 1000 Guidehouse LLP United States Texas San Antonio 1000 Auria United States Colorado Colorado Springs 620 L&T India Tamil Nadu Sriperumbudur 600 Proofpoint, Inc. Ireland Munster Cork 250 IT By Design Philippines National Capital Region Taguig 250 UKG Kronos Systems, LLC Ireland Leinster Kilkenny 200 Demant AS Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur 200 Bluehalo, LLC United States Maryland Germantown 200 Provalus United States Kentucky Monticello 200 Silotech Group, Inc United States Texas San Antonio 200 Strider Technologies Inc. United States Utah South Jordan 152 Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc. India Karnataka Bengaluru 150 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. Ireland Connaught Galway 150 Cybecs Security Solutions United States Florida Tampa 150 Provalus United States North Carolina North Wilkesboro 150 Invictus International Consulting, LLC United States Colorado Colorado Springs 130 Thales Canada New Brunswick Fredericton 110 Corning Incorporated India Maharashtra Pune 100 Swimlane Automation (India) Ltd. India Telangana Hyderabad 100 Binarii Labs Ltd. Ireland Leinster Dublin 100 Source: Conway Projects Database, Conway Data Inc./Site Selection Cybersecurity and compliance company Proofpoint in September 2024 announced a new office in Cork, Ireland, that will serve as the company’s international hub, where more than 250 jobs are projected to be created in the next two years. Ireland’s forthcoming ‘2025 and Beyond’ economic development strategy plan includes cybersecurity and related sectors. Photo courtesy of IDA Ireland and ProofpointIn Seattle, a vision to ‘undo harms’ of the Interstate system unfolds. W hen completed in the s as a coastal link from the southern border of Canada to the northern border of Mexico, Interstate cut a swath through Seattle that served to separate urban neighborhoods that, for generations, were parts of a greater whole. As with cities across the country, localized isolation was the price to be paid for the nationwide connectivity conferred by the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System and the economic boom it helped to unleash. More than half a century later, a Seattle-based partnership is seeking to remedy some of that damage by capping a mile-long section of urban asphalt with what would be the country’s biggest freeway lid. “Undoing past harms of freeways has become an important thing across the country,” says John Feit, co-chair of the group Lid I-. “ e goal,” Feit told Site Selection in January, “is to reconnect people and places to the largest extent possible.” Supporters freely acknowledge that their dream represents a heavy lift, one certain to require decades of planning and construction and massive public investment. But proof of concept is there. Seattle, Washington’s economic engine, already is home to the greatest concentration of freeway lids in the country, numbering about a dozen. Its .-acre Freeway Park, completed in , is believed to have been the nation’s fi rst. Built over seven years at a cost of some $ million, today it is downtown Seattle’s biggest public park, considered a landmark of urban landscape architecture. Seattle, says Feit, an architect by trade, “has demonstrated that freeway lids are a viable strategy to expand public land, reduce pollution and enhance community connections.” by GARY DAUGHTER gary.daughter@siteselection.com I-5 CORRIDOR SITE SELECTION MARCH 2025 49 Put a Lid On It Photo: Getty Images50 MARCH 2025 SITE SELECTION More Housing, Businesses, Tax Revenue A feasibility report by the Seattle Offi ce of Planning and Community estimated the I- Lid could support up to , direct, indirect and induced jobs during construction alone and contribute more than $ billion of annual economic activity. Since then, however, planners have nearly doubled the lid’s projected footprint to more than acres, extending it southward into Seattle’s Chinatown International District, arguably the neighborhood most impacted by Interstate . e plan’s outsized economic impact derives from the fact that, unlike Freeway Park and other such lids, it is envisioned as much more than just green space. “We want the details to come out of what the Seattle community wants to see,” Feit says. “But I think it’s fair to say that it will have not just parks but buildings and other physical infrastructure, including streets to reconnect these neighborhoods. In that sense, streets will be incredibly important.” Supporters also envision new housing and businesses sprouting atop the lid, injecting vitality and opening sources of public revenue. “If we create another acres of land,” Feit says, “that’s acres that are suddenly on the property tax rolls.” A Long Row to Hoe Along miles from the Canadian border in the north to Oregon in the south, I- in Washington supports more than , jobs and generates $. billion in annual revenue, according to a report by the I- System Partnership, a statewide stakeholder group that’s advocating for improvements to the corridor. As with other federal highways laid in the s, the challenges are many, including bottlenecks, cracked and crumbling pavement and bridges susceptible to seismic events. “ is Interstate is the backbone of Washington’s transportation system, powering our economy, linking statewide markets to our ports, connecting people to jobs, goods and each other,” states a Partnership report. “I-’s lack of reliability threatens Washington’s ability to compete globally and the quality of life for the region. A lasting change is needed.” To address those problems and plan for growth across the rapidly expanding region, the Washington Legislature in authorized $ million for the development of a far-reaching Interstate Master Plan. “ e I- Master Plan,” according to a report by the Washington State Department of Transportation, “will inform future I- investment decisions that meet the demands of future growth, are equitable and resilient, move people and goods safely and effi ciently, connect communities, leverage emerging technologies and support a thriving economy.” Feit views the statewide attention being devoted to I- as a boon to the lid project. “Ours is a long process,” he says, “and projects of this magnitude are particularly prickly in Seattle, because we’re a progressive West Coast city and we like to have a group hug and sing ‘Kumbaya,’ which adds additional layers of complexity and time. With something like this,” he says, “you need to be at the start of the conversation to get the outcomes you want. And the conversation needs to be, ‘How can our reimagining of Interstate lead to an improved urban environment in Seattle?’ ” “ e goal is to reconnect people and places to the largest extent possible.” — John Feit , Co-chair, Lid I-5 I-5 Lid Phase One Rendering courtesy of Lid I-5 SITE SELECTION MARCH 2025 51 Will AI Help Save Lives? M any biopharmaceutical manufacturers are exploring how generative artificial intelligence (AI) advancements can bring their respective operations to new levels. A December 2024 paper by Kampanart Huanbutta and co-authors published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences reported, “Over a thousand research articles and reviews have been published in the last five years on the use of AI in pharmaceutical applications.” The FDA in January reported that its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) “has seen a significant increase in the number of drug application submissions using AI components over the past few years.” In the past two years, global life sciences companies Amgen and Moderna have announced how they will be moving forward with AI integration. Moderna’s partnership with OpenAI to create its own version of ChatGPT, named mChat, led to the later development of ChatGPT Enterprise. Since 2023, the company has seen an over 80% internal adoption since its launch, introducing capabilities like advanced analytics, image generation and GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) which are now embedded throughout Moderna’s business functions. The AI tools act as assistants to the company’s researchers to address complex challenges in developing mRNA medicines for patients. In 2024, Moderna reported deployment of over 750 GPTs across its operations that aid in driving automation and productivity. For example, the Dose ID GPT uses an advanced data analytics feature from ChatGPT Enterprise to help clinical study teams calculate a product’s optimal vaccine dose by applying standard dose selection criteria and principles. The AI tool provides researchers with a rationale and source references and generates informative charts to illustrate its key findings. Moderna’s team thus can provide a detailed review of a vaccine dose profile with the aid of AI’s input before a product moves into further development in late-stage clinical trials. Knowing that protein drug development is a long, challenging and costly process, Amgen is pursuing generative biology, which combines AI and machine learning (ML) with innovations in biology and its lab to make medicines more quickly and effectively. Data collected from a protein’s sequence, structure by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.com BIOPHARMACEUTICALS Global biopharmaceutical companies look to leverage AI tools to streamline safe and effective drug development. Photo: Getty ImagesNext >