The European data centre sector is entering a period of unprecedented expansion, with operators expecting to commission an average of 67MW of capacity in 2026. 

The decision to implement new technology often meets a common internal roadblock due to unknown challenges, according to an opinion by Imre-Gustav Vellamaa of R8 Technologies.

Institutional investors are returning to key European markets, and transaction volumes are expected to rise steadily after a period of reassessment in 2024-2025, according to a Colliers report.

Older buildings usually consume more energy in operation than new construction. That is not only a cost issue. It also affects how an asset performs against market standards like BREEAM, EU Taxonomy, and CRREM, as well as regulations such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the rules for Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS). Many owners assume the only way to close the gap is a major refurbishment. Better insulation and new equipment certainly help, but they are expensive and disruptive. Investments in deep fabric and equipment upgrades can reach one to five percent of the asset value.

Charles Boudet, CEO of iO Partners, described for Property Forum how AI and digitalisation are reshaping real estate in CEE. From innovative tools like iO4Land to strategic expansion in Austria and Serbia, the company is looking to drive efficiency, growth, and resilience across multiple sectors.

DL Invest Group, a commercial real estate investor and developer in CEE, has entered into a joint venture partnership with Boosteroid, a cloud gaming and cloud solutions provider specialising in cloud and data centre technologies.

The European real estate industry has shifted from cautious optimism to pragmatism as geopolitical and economic uncertainty continues to temper investment activity, according to the latest report by PwC and the Urban Land Institute.

iO Partners has launched iO4Land, a digital solution that transforms how land is sourced, analysed, and validated across CEE.

K1 Investment Management has announced a strategic investment to combine SINGU and Micad, two large European real estate management software providers. 

Sorin Preda, Founder and CEO of Global Vision, talked to Property Forum about the company's new investment fund which should grow to €50 million and the vision to expand across the commercial sector as well as in the renewable energy segment as the development pipeline amounts to more than €500 million.