Serbia has established a government working group to coordinate the development of a Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) Tier-1 centre at the State Data Centre in Kragujevac, supporting scientific computing for CERN’s Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment.
A government decision published in the Official Gazette on October 16 defines responsibilities for coordinating implementation, technical requirements and operational integration. The initiative follows a cooperation memorandum signed between Serbia and CERN on December 9, 2023. The decision does not confirm that the facility is operational or that its final investment budget has been secured.
Government Coordinates Technical Requirements
The working group is chaired, a state secretary at the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation. Members include representatives of the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Physics, the Office for Information Technology and eGovernment, and Data Cloud Technology, which is involved in operating the Kragujevac infrastructure. An associate professor at the Faculty of Physics, serves as scientific and technical coordinator.
The group must coordinate with CERN, assess computing and storage capacity, international connectivity, installation, testing, technical support and staffing, and propose financing arrangements.
Existing Infrastructure and Investment Needs
The centre will use the existing State Data Centre in Kragujevac, which has approximately 14,000 square metres of data-centre infrastructure. During 2026, reported electrical capacity at the broader complex increased to approximately 14 MW following an additional 8 MW of capacity. These figures do not indicate how much capacity is allocated specifically to the CERN project.
The government has not disclosed a consolidated capital-expenditure estimate or specified the additional computing hardware, storage, networking and electrical infrastructure required. Although using an existing facility can reduce construction needs, equipment procurement, system integration and long-term operations will still require funding.
Electricity, Cooling and Connectivity
Reliable electricity supply is essential for continuous scientific computing operations. The project’s engineering requirements may include backup generation, uninterruptible power systems, electrical protection and redundant distribution. The government decision does not specify the centre’s dedicated power requirement, so its annual electricity consumption cannot yet be reliably estimated.
Cooling, electrical losses, maintenance and equipment replacement will also affect operating costs. The investment assessment must account for actual computing workloads, equipment specifications and efficiency requirements. International connectivity is equally important because the WLCG transfers large scientific datasets between participating institutions. The centre must demonstrate adequate bandwidth, reliable connections and the ability to transfer, process and store data at the performance levels required by CERN and the wider network.
Staffing, Cybersecurity and Long-Term Funding
The facility will require specialist personnel to manage computing clusters, storage, networks, cybersecurity and infrastructure monitoring. Recruitment, training and retention will be part of the operating-cost assessment, with Serbia’s universities and research institutions potentially providing relevant expertise.
The project could create opportunities for domestic technology companies in equipment integration, maintenance, software support and engineering services. However, the government decision does not announce new procurement contracts or quantify potential private-sector business. Unlike commercial data centres that depend on customer revenue, scientific computing infrastructure may rely substantially on public funding and institutional commitments. Its financial plan must cover initial investment, electricity, network services, maintenance, specialist staff and periodic hardware replacement.
The working group must assess the remaining financing requirements and propose funding arrangements. Successful operational integration and acceptance into the WLCG will require technical testing, documented commissioning criteria and verification that the facility meets international standards. Establishing the working group alone does not confirm that these requirements have been fulfilled.
