THE COMPUTE DIVIDE: AI-DRIVEN FINTECH, DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT IN EMERGING MARKETS

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Publicado: Sep 11, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29073/e3.v12i2.1277

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Klemens Katterbauer
Earth Science and Global Management, Euclid University, Gambia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5513-4418
Sema Yilmaz
Yıldız Technical University, Türkiye
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3138-1622
Rui Alexandre Castanho
VALORIZA, Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University (UPP), 7300 Portalegre, Portugal | Advanced Research Centre, European University of Lefke, Lefke, Northern Cyprus, TR-10 Mersin, Turkey
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1882-4801
Rahmi Deniz Özbay
İstanbul Ticaret University, Turkey
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3927-8216

Resumo

A convergência entre a inteligência artificial (IA), a tecnologia financeira (fintech) e as infraestruturas digitais está a redefinir as trajetórias de desenvolvimento económico nos mercados emergentes, com os centros de dados a assumirem-se como ativos estratégicos de soberania, fundamentais para esta transformação. Este estudo analisa a interação entre a inovação fintech impulsionada pela IA e o desenvolvimento de infraestruturas de centros de dados em África, no Sudeste Asiático e na América Latina, examinando os enquadramentos de políticas públicas que possibilitam ou condicionam este crescimento. Com base em evidências referentes ao período 2025–2026, a análise revela uma acentuada divisão digital: os países de rendimento elevado concentram 77% da capacidade global de centros de dados, enquanto os países de baixo rendimento detêm menos de 0,1%, limitando diretamente a capacidade de inovação em IA nas economias emergentes. Apesar destas disparidades, investimentos significativos — incluindo a parceria de 700 milhões de dólares da NVIDIA em África, o aumento da capacidade da Malásia para 690 MW e o mercado latino-americano avaliado em 7,16 mil milhões de dólares — evidenciam um significativo potencial transformador. O estudo sustenta que a integração bem-sucedida da IA e das fintech depende de uma tríade de fatores: infraestruturas robustas de centros de dados, ambientes regulatórios favoráveis e soluções energéticas sustentáveis. As recomendações de política pública destacam as parcerias público-privadas, os regulatory sandboxes, a integração de energias renováveis e o investimento internacional direcionado. Os resultados demonstram que os centros de dados não constituem meras infraestruturas técnicas, mas antes ativos estratégicos que determinam se os mercados emergentes se tornarão participantes ativos na economia digital impulsionada pela IA ou se permanecerão na sua periferia.

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Katterbauer, K. ., Yilmaz, S., Castanho, R. A., & Deniz Özbay, R. . (2026). THE COMPUTE DIVIDE: AI-DRIVEN FINTECH, DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT IN EMERGING MARKETS. E3 — Revista De Economia, Empresas E Empreendedores Na CPLP, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.29073/e3.v12i2.1277
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Vol. 12 N.º 2 (2026): Vol. 12 No. 2 (2026)
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Artigos
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Biografias Autor

Klemens Katterbauer, Earth Science and Global Management, Euclid University, Gambia

Klemens Katterbauer is a Full Professor of Global Law & Management and Earth Sciences at EUCLID University. His interdisciplinary research focuses on artificial intelligence, digital finance, international law, cybersecurity, energy transition, and sustainable development. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth Science and Engineering from KAUST and a DBA from Middlesex University, and has extensive experience developing AI-driven solutions across technological, financial, regulatory, and environmental domains.

Sema Yilmaz, Yıldız Technical University, Türkiye

Sema Yılmaz is Professor of Economics at Yıldız Technical University, Türkiye, where she also serves as Vice Head of the Department of Economics. She holds a Ph.D. in Economic History from Marmara University. Her research interests include international economics, economic thought, institutional economics, economic sociology, economic history, and emerging areas at the intersection of digital technologies and finance. She has an extensive publication record in international journals and actively contributes to several scientific and editorial boards.

Rui Alexandre Castanho, VALORIZA, Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University (UPP), 7300 Portalegre, Portugal | Advanced Research Centre, European University of Lefke, Lefke, Northern Cyprus, TR-10 Mersin, Turkey

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Rahmi Deniz Özbay, İstanbul Ticaret University, Turkey

Rahmi Deniz Özbay is Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Business at Istanbul Ticaret University, Türkiye. His research focuses on economic history, the Ottoman economy, history of technology, the new economy, management information systems, and information technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Marmara University and previously served there in several academic leadership positions, including Department Chair, Vice Dean, and Vice Rector. His recent research also addresses digitalization, artificial intelligence, and emerging economic and financial technologies.

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