Weekly Brief for Business, October 2, 2026

TenderPriority

Slovakia seeks bids for €2.5 billion data center hardware and infrastructure

Centrum vedecko-technických informácií Slovenskej republiky (CVTI SR) has opened a public tender for the supply and commissioning of two data centers in Žilina and Bratislava (with redundancy in a third location), including non-IT infrastructure, IT hardware (compute, storage, networking, GPU), virtualization, containerization, object storage, management layers and AI services, with a submission deadline of November 9, 2026.

Why it matters: GPU, compute and storage vendors, power and cooling specialists, and virtualization and AI software firms can all win a share, as the main contractor or inside a consortium.

First move: Read Príloha 1 and 1a, decide whether to bid as prime or as a consortium partner, and line up partners well ahead of November 9.

TED (EU public tenders)Slovakiaest. €2.5bnbids due Nov 9, 2026→ Data center equipment→ IT hardware and networking→ AI infrastructure

Get alerts like this, judged against what you sell →

TenderPriority

Region Uppsala issues prior information notice for bus traffic tender

Region Uppsala in Sweden has published a prior information notice for the procurement of regional and urban bus services with a planned traffic start in 2031. The contract covers approximately 30 million kilometers annually with around 320 buses; current annual compensation is about SEK 800 million. The procurement process is expected to begin in early 2028 with contract signing targeted for mid-2029. Estimated value €728 million.

Why it matters: Bus operators will compete for the main contract, which may also cover school services, with work following for vehicle and maintenance suppliers. Buying is years away, so the specifications are still open.

First move: Take part in the consultation and market dialogue Region Uppsala plans before the 2028 tender, starting from the public transport page on regionuppsala.se.

TED (EU public tenders)Swedenest. €728Mbuying starts in a year or more→ Bus operators→ Public transport contractors→ Fleet management services

Investment

South Korea overhauls grid to connect over 100 GW of renewables

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment lifted renewable connection restrictions in Honam, parts of Chungcheong, and the east coast, introducing a flexible connection regime and using energy storage to enable over 100 GW of renewables by 2030 without major new grid builds in saturated areas.

Why it matters: Battery storage suppliers gain most: the ministry plans to connect extra solar in saturated areas through storage instead of new lines, 3 GW on distribution networks and 1.6 GW at substations by 2030.

First move: Approach the developers whose Honam and Chungcheong solar projects can now connect, and follow the ministry’s storage programs for distribution networks and substations.

pv magazineSouth Koreabuying starts within months→ Grid infrastructure→ Energy storage→ Renewable energy developers

Investment

Vedanta Copper plans $2.3 billion capex to expand output in India and Saudi Arabia

Vedanta Copper announced a $2.3 billion investment over three to four years to reach 500,000 tonnes copper production in India and 500,000 tonnes in Saudi Arabia, with advanced talks to restart and refurbish the $250 million Tuticorin smelter in Tamil Nadu that has been closed since 2018.

Why it matters: Smelter equipment makers, copper processing technology firms and refurbishment contractors stand to win packages, first at Tuticorin and then in the new capacity in India and Saudi Arabia.

First move: Put your smelter refurbishment credentials in front of Vedanta Copper now, so you are on its list if the Tuticorin restart is approved.

ET Industry (India)Indiabuying starts within months→ Smelter equipment→ Copper processing technology→ Refurbishment contractors

Investment

BMW invests €2bn in German plants for new 3 Series and battery production

BMW Group is committing approximately €2 billion to upgrade its Munich and Dingolfing vehicle plants and build a new battery plant in Irlbach-Straßkirchen, Lower Bavaria, for eighth-generation 3 Series and i3 production.

Why it matters: The German build is well advanced, with battery deliveries to Munich due from October, but BMW will apply the same production standards to the 3 Series and i3 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and to a modified 3 Series in Shenyang, China.

First move: Pitch battery assembly and line equipment built to BMW’s new standards for the San Luis Potosí and Shenyang lines, where the next round of this work is.

Just AutoGermanybuying starts within months→ Auto manufacturing equipment→ Battery production systems→ Factory modernization contractors