SUPPORT FOR AI ADVANCEMENT
Amazon Web Services is tapping into local expertise from South Korea-based multinational conglomerate SK Group to pursue a new data center development in Ulsan. In June, AWS and SK Group held a signing ceremony that marked the establishment of the planned AWS AI Zone in the city. In this partnership SK Group will take the lead on the data center’s construction, which is anticipated to be complete by 2027 and create up to 78,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region. Meanwhile, AWS will introduce dedicated AI infrastructure, including UltraCluster networks for AI training and inference and top AWS services for AI applications such as Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q. The city was identified as a key location due to its stable gas supply chain, advanced energy solutions, site availability, business climate and a favorable environment for submarine cables. “We are pleased to combine the technological capabilities of SK Group with AWS, the world’s leading cloud provider, to establish a core infrastructure for a Korean AI ecosystem and create a powerful new engine for the ‘AI highway,’ ” said SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. “Moving forward, SK will continue to build an AI data center hub in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region by leveraging the unique strengths of each affiliate and our global partnerships.”
Rendering courtesy of SMRT
MAINE’S GOT YOU COVERED
Mölnlycke Health Care has announced the company’s largest investment to date, and it won’t be heading toward the manufacturer’s home base in Sweden. Over 3,400 miles away in Brunswick, Maine, the company will put $122 million toward the expansion of its wound care manufacturing plant. “This expansion is a very big deal and the result of over a year’s hard work. Besides creating new jobs, it will drive workforce development and bring technological advancements,” said Mölnlycke General Manager U.S. Manufacturing, Wound Care Chris Biddle. “It’s a win for Mölnlycke, for the local community and for patients. We’re excited about the positive impact it will have locally in Maine and across the broader US healthcare landscape.” Increased U.S. demand for wound care products allows the company to enhance its localization strategy to strengthen the U.S. supply chain, mitigate risk exposure and streamline product delivery for healthcare providers. The site’s expansion will include the integration of new advanced technology and machinery, tapping into renewable energy resources like solar and wind for power and delivering an undisclosed number of new jobs created in the region.
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SECURING PROJECT POWERBALL
Global electronics manufacturer Jabil is ready to expand its presence in North Carolina with plans for a new $500 million manufacturing facility in Rowan County. According to the project announcement made last week, this will be the company’s fourth location in the state and will directly support cloud computing and AI data center customers by mid-2026. Jabil also heavily considered Florida for the project. North Carolina provided the company with a 12-year Job Development Investment Grant which could bring a potential reimbursement of up to $11.3 million during that time. “The drive to build AI data centers is only accelerating in the United States,” said Jabil Executive Vice President, Global Business Units Matt Crowley. “We are excited to help meet that demand, provide additional scale and capabilities for our data center customers, and empower the AI solutions of the future with Jabil’s new facility here in Rowan County.” The new facility is anticipated to create up to 1,200 new jobs in the region once complete, which will more than double the company’s current workforce across all its North Carolina operations.
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
