A project dubbed Pantheon would create a major artificial intelligence development and innovation centre in the Topusko area of Sisak‑Moslavina County. According to reporting by the Croatian daily Jutarnji List, the developers estimate the investment at about €50 billion; the newspaper says it has had access to project documentation and published conceptual renderings.
What the development would include
Plans call for a data centre complex and a technology campus designed to provide research, development and compute capacity for AI work. The project is described as having the potential to become one of Europe’s largest AI infrastructures and, if realised, would represent by far the largest single investment in Croatia’s history.
Developers envisage a phased implementation: initial construction would focus on the data‑centre facilities and core infrastructure, followed by the rollout of research and innovation units.
Leadership and experience
The project’s Croatian lead is entrepreneur Jako Andabak. The engineering design is overseen by Mislav Crnogorac, a Zagreb‑born engineer who previously worked on data‑centre projects for several international technology firms, including Amazon Web Services.
Economic and employment impact
Jutarnji List reports the construction phase could create several thousand temporary jobs, while the centre’s operation could directly employ about 1,500 specialists. Including indirect effects, developers estimate as many as 6,000 new jobs could be generated in the region.
Site selection and regional significance
The newspaper notes that several Central and Eastern European countries competed to host the project, but the developers selected Croatia. Factors cited in the decision include Croatia’s membership of the European Union and NATO, regional stability and the availability of skilled technical labour.
Developers expect construction to start in coming years, with the first units potentially becoming operational by the end of the decade. If realised, the Pantheon development would be one of the most significant technology investments in the Central and Eastern European region.
Related coverage
The Vecernji List also reported on the project and stated that Jako Andabak is developing the Pantheon data‑centre project in partnership with US institutional investors. That outlet said the development could be presented at the business forum of the Three Seas Initiative summit held in Dubrovnik.
This article summarises reporting by Jutarnji List and Vecernji List as referenced in the original notice.
