Well-managed stakeholder relations drive project success, strengthen brand value, and build long-term societal acceptance.
Now is the time to shape the public conversation around data centers – while it’s still being formed.
In a feasibility study, the data center’s technical and business requirements are defined, potential sites and risks assessed, preliminary design, costs, schedule, and permitting needs outlined, and early dialogue with cities initiated.
Uncertainty around the investment case.
Identifying potential locations in Finland.
Identifying sites with sufficient power, cooling, and fiber infrastructure.
Assessing regional differences in grid capacity.
Early political sensitivities or low awareness in municipalities.
Political uncertainty around taxation and regulation related to datacenter projects.
Aligning with Finland’s digital and green transition agenda.
Early engagement with municipalities can open zoning flexibility.
Building positive momentum with proactive public and political dialogue.
Provide evidence-based justification to support the selection of Finland as the project location.
Conduct stakeholder mapping and political climate research to identify optimal project locations.
Conduct research on local residents’ and stakeholders’ attitudes toward data centers.
Initiate media outreach to shape neutral or favorable tone early.
Engage key policymakers to assess support.
Deliver internal communications material for investor and executive buy-in.
Frame the project within national innovation, security, and green growth narratives.
Help to anticipate changes in the operating or regulatory environment over the long term.
Help identify and mitigate operational and communications-related sustainability risks throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Conduct research on what kind of communication resonates with key audiences to prevent reputational risks and strengthen positive brand perception.
In the investment decision phase, the business case is finalized, financing secured, risks and returns assessed, leadership or board approval obtained, and the project’s governance and management structure established.
Aligning technical, financial, and leadership stakeholders.
Securing external financing amid regulatory and market uncertainties.
Communicating complex risk and value factors clearly.
Positioning as a strategic ESG-aligned investment.
Tapping into EU and Finnish funding or incentive schemes.
Strengthening employer brand and investor trust.
Synthesize feasibility findings into a clear and compelling package for executive decision-making.
Develop persuasive investment and funding narratives.
Prepare external and internal communication strategies.
Support public funding documentation and positioning.
Build media messaging and political advocacy in line with project goals.
In the land acquisition phase, the project team secures the selected site, ensures zoning compliance, initiates utility agreements, and completes legal and technical due diligence to finalize the land deal.
Zoning limitations or delays in plan approvals.
Local resistance tied to environmental or land use concerns.
Negotiation complexity around utility access and easements.
Framing the data center as a long-term anchor for digital development.
Leveraging partnerships in heat reuse or smart grid innovation.
Demonstrating alignment with regional climate and employment strategies.
Participate in community engagement with local stakeholders through direct contributions, such as sponsorships.
Enhance local legitimacy and acceptance.
Lead community engagement and value-based storytelling.
Align messaging with city growth, employment, and sustainability goals.
Support direct municipal relations and public briefings.
Map local stakeholders and actors to initiate community engagement and direct contributions.
In the permit procedures phase, all required approvals are applied for, including building, zoning, environmental, and utility connection permits.
Complex regulatory pathways (building, environmental, chemical safety, and data security).
Risk of delays due to public objections or bureaucratic overload.
Need to manage simultaneous stakeholder expectations.
Proactive transparency can speed up acceptance and reduce resistance.
Positioning as a case of responsible industrial permitting.
Collaborating with agencies to demonstrate best practices.
Clarify and explain the Finnish permitting process to improve understanding and predictability.
Manage stakeholder and media communications during environmental impact assessment and permitting to support progress and reduce appeal risks.
Coordinate messaging for hearings and consultation rounds.
Engage in media work and build trust through accurate, open updates.
Provide issues management, crisis communications, and public relations to proactively handle emerging concerns.
Offer insight into the operations of Finnish permitting authorities to navigate the regulatory landscape more effectively.
Assist in shaping defense and security-related perspectives when the project involves foreign direct investment (FDI).
Facilitate independent stakeholder consultations based on OECD frameworks to uncover potential risks and sensitivities early in the permitting process.
In the design phase, multidisciplinary teams develop a complete, build-ready facility design covering architecture, engineering, sustainability, energy efficiency, and compliance, resulting in finalized technical drawings and specifications.
Integrating complex sustainability, security, and cost-performance goals.
Navigating divergent expectations from technical and public stakeholders.
Addressing future-proofing and environmental compliance in parallel.
Availability of skilled labor outside major growth centers.
Showcasing innovative energy efficiency, resilience, and digital infrastructure.
Using the design story to connect with national climate and tech narratives.
Becoming a model for sustainable hyperscale or modular architecture.
Translate technical and sustainability design goals into public narratives.
Develop communication materials on power usage effectiveness and heat reuse.
Support storytelling around innovation and responsible design.
Create compelling presentation materials that illustrate the data center’s design and visualize its environmental impact.
Ensure the project aligns with societal design principles by integrating community values, accessibility, and long-term public benefit into the facility’s planning and communication.
In the energy procurement phase, long-term electricity supply is secured through grid connection and power purchase agreements, alongside arrangements for renewable energy sourcing and waste heat integration.
Securing sufficient grid access and stable supply.
Verifying green sourcing and carbon claims.
Complex negotiation timelines with DSOs, utilities, or generators.
Flexibility demands in climate energy strategy.
Signing PPAs or renewable deals that enhance brand and impact.
Integrating heat recovery with municipal energy systems.
Positioning as a climate leader in digital infrastructure.
Support energy strategy communications and stakeholder materials.
Position renewable energy strategy and heat reuse partnerships.
Build credibility around ESG commitments in public and policy dialogue.
Identify partners for heat reuse and energy balancing to help scale the use of waste heat effectively.
In the construction phase, the data center facility is built and equipped, quality and safety are monitored, systems are installed, and the site is completed and prepared for testing and operational use.
Managing disruption (noise, traffic, logistics) during works.
Locals’ concerns related to the impact of data centers on property value, landscape issue, land use, and rising electricity prices.
Timeline risk, budget overruns, or safety incidents.
Increased public visibility and scrutiny.
Engage local suppliers and labor to boost regional benefit.
Share safety culture and project transparency as strengths.
Build public support through openness and updates.
Create job opportunities in rural or formerly industrialized areas.
Strengthen regional development by attracting other businesses, increasing demand for B2B and B2C services.
Deliver transparent and ongoing communications to all project stakeholders (newsletters, briefings, signage).
Manage media relations around milestones or risks.
Provide event planning and messaging for public site tours or press visits.
Prepare incident response and community feedback channels.
Provide safety communication support (internal and external) during construction.
Create and maintain construction-phase websites to share updates and key information with the public.
Plan and promote cornerstone-laying ceremonies or other key stakeholder milestones to create positive visibility and reinforce commitment to the project.
In the production phase, the data center enters operational use and may be expanded over time in phases as demand evolves.
High expectations on uptime, transparency, and emissions reporting.
Delivering local benefits and long-term community value.
Managing long-term stakeholder expectations.
Become a national reference for secure, green digital infrastructure.
Showcase Finland as a hub for resilient data infrastructure.
Build partnerships with education, cities, and public institutions.
Show a clear increase in employment, revenue, output, gross value, and tax revenue.
Plan and execute launch campaign with earned media and event hosting to earn local acceptance.
Help bring key figures (e.g. ministers) on-site and secure press coverage.
Drive long-term thought leadership and media visibility.
Continue decision-maker engagement and public affairs strategy post-launch.
Plan and coordinate a topping-out ceremony to celebrate construction progress, engage stakeholders, and secure positive media coverage.
Get in touch with our team to discuss how we can support your data center project in Finland.
Antti Salomaa
Country lead Miltton Finland +358 405 120 889 antti.salomaa@miltton.com
Matti Niemi
Managing director, Miltton Networks Miltton Finland +358 456 791 717 matti.niemi@miltton.com