News

UK Digital Twin Centre opens in Belfast

The UK Digital Twin Centre has officially opened in Belfast, in what is believed to be a significant milestone for the UK’s digital innovation landscape. Delivered by Digital Catapult and funded by the Belfast Region City Deal and Innovate UK, the project is set to drive the next wave of industrial transformation by accelerating the adoption of digital twin technology across the UK’s critical sectors, projected to reach £62 million in GVA for the economy over the next decade. A digital twin is a dynamic virtual representation (‘twin’) of a physical asset, process, or system, bridging the physical and digital worlds. They turn data into real-time insights that can optimise performance, reduce costs, and predict outcomes before they happen. Since funding for the project was announced, Digital Catapult has brought together industry and innovators to identify adoption barriers and strategic interventions. At the Centre’s opening, the project’s co-investing industry partners – Artemis Technologies, Spirit AeroSystems, and Thales UK – utilised the facilities, including the 360-degree immersive space and advanced technology lab, to demonstrate how digital twins are helping to solve complex operational challenges. These early-stage use cases emphasise the power of cross-sector collaboration to create scalable, practical solutions while building expertise that can be shared across industries, ultimately improving product design, building supply chain resilience, and decarbonising operations. Programmes delivered by the UK Digital Twin Centre will help businesses across the UK to demystify, demonstrate, and deploy digital twins. With expert support, test environments and tools to experiment and validate, combined with shared learnings from industry use cases, it offers a practical route to adoption. The Centre has convened capabilities across digital twins' six enabling technology areas - intelligence, data services, immersive and UX, cyber-physical systems, integration, and security - to make this emerging technology more accessible and interoperable across sectors and suppliers. “The UK Digital Twin Centre marks a major step for Belfast, driving innovation in high-growth sectors like advanced manufacturing,” said the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray. “Through the Belfast Region City Deal and with Digital Catapult’s UK-wide reach, we’re connecting our SMEs to a powerful network, unlocking access to new markets, collaboration opportunities, and cutting-edge technologies. This will boost local businesses, create high-skilled jobs, and drive real economic impact for the region.” The Centre’s first six-month Accelerator Programme, now open for pre-application expressions of interest, will support partnerships between tech SMEs and industry to fast-track digital twin adoption in maritime, aerospace, and defence. Alongside Innovate UK funding, participants will also gain access to mentorship, workshops, and specialist support to develop proofs of concept for enabling technologies - such as IoT, data integration, and simulation tools - bringing their solutions closer to real-world deployment. “The UK Digital Twin Centre brings together our technical expertise, facilities, and networks to unlock the power of deep technologies,” says Susan Bowen, CEO of Digital Catapult. “By connecting industries with cutting-edge technology through our programmes, we are enabling businesses to harness the full potential of digital twins-driving operational efficiencies, advancing sustainability, and sharpening the competitive edge of UK businesses.” Dean Cook, Executive Director for Place and Global at Innovate UK, adds, “Seeing real-world use cases coming to life at the UK Digital Twin Centre is a powerful demonstration of how digital twins can deliver tangible advances for UK industry. These cutting edge tools will solve complex business challenges in aerospace, maritime, and defence. It’s a testament to how we are leveraging the strengths of local innovation clusters across the UK, with Belfast bringing together it’s wealth of business and research expertise in digital technologies and advanced manufacturing. In turn this will have a positive impact on economic growth in Northern Ireland and across the UK.” Expressions of interest are now open for tech SMEs and industry leaders ready to collaborate on real-world challenges on the first UK Digital Twin Centre accelerator programme. To find out more, click here.

Yondr and CBRE to create data centre apprenticeship programme

Yondr Group, a global developer, owner and operator of hyperscale data centres, has teamed up with CBRE, a real estate services company with 25 years’ experience in integrated data centre operations, to create an apprenticeship programme that will be rolled out to all Yondr data centre projects worldwide. The programme reiterates both companies’ commitment to developing the skills that the data centre industry needs around the world. As Yondr’s global data centre operations partner, CBRE will collaborate with the company to facilitate the scheme. Apprentices will be recruited for each Yondr data centre once the asset has moved into the operational phase and will work with the Yondr and CBRE teams on site, while also receiving training towards certification in disciplines such as administration, critical environment engineering and management. Recruitment and training for the apprentices globally will align with local apprenticeship models for each location, drawing on relationships with local colleges and training providers. The programme will also offer professional experience and mentoring from Yondr and CBRE colleagues to empower apprentices on their path toward a successful future in the data centre industry. The first project to benefit from the apprenticeship programme is Yondr’s London data centre campus in Slough, where one apprentice is already in post and a second is currently being recruited. At this 100MW site, where the campus will comprise three data centres, two apprentices will be recruited for each data centre building. With Yondr’s Netherlands project already live, Frankfurt recently handed over, and progress continuing at pace at the company’s projects across North America, Europe, and Asia, the apprenticeship programme is set to develop exponentially as data centre assets come online. The company anticipates recruiting four apprentices in Slough, and two each in the Netherlands, Germany, the US and Malaysia by the end of 2025. Paul Hood, Yondr’s COO - Global Data Center Operations, comments, “As a former apprentice myself, I have always been an advocate of this career route and recognised the value of apprenticeships in selecting talent that is ambitious and pragmatic with a can-do attitude. “With the partnership of CBRE and support of training providers, we can help guide future talent into the skilled professionals of tomorrow. I am very excited that Yondr will not only be shaping young people’s careers, but also inspiring them to play a vital role in operating the digital infrastructure on which we all rely.” Andrew Chilcott, Global Alliance Director for CBRE’s Data Centre Solutions business, adds, “The task of operating data centres is distinct from running any other commercial property. It’s vital that the data centre sector nurtures bespoke talent and highlights the potential for varied and exciting careers in our dynamic industry to attract high calibre candidates. “With our joint investment in this global apprenticeship programme and our commitment to supporting the apprentices we recruit; I am certain that this will be the beginning of a very successful journey for all involved.” Yondr’s investment in the global apprenticeship programme forms part of the company’s social impact strategy, which aims to create value and opportunity for the communities surrounding its data centres. So far, the strategy has led to a range of social impact initiatives, including STEM and employability skills training, as well as scholarship programmes in Europe and North America. Similarly, CBRE is committed to its broader Talent Strategy, actively engaging in apprenticeship programmes with over 1,800 apprentices globally. For more from Yondr Group, click here.

ODATA announces launch of largest data centre in Mexico

ODATA, an Aligned Data Centers company and a provider of data centre construction and operations in Latin America, has announced the launch of the first facility at its DC QR03 campus – the company’s largest data centre development in Mexico. Located in the PyME Industrial Park in Querétaro, the new campus represents a total investment of over $3 billion (£2.3bn) and will provide up to 300 megawatts (MW) of IT capacity upon full build-out. The site will feature five buildings across nearly 275,000 square metres. The first building offers 72 MW of IT power and is readily available to support the growing demands of cloud and AI providers. This milestone reportedly establishes ODATA as Mexico’s leading hyperscale data centre provider for this scale of capacity and near-term power availability. In February 2025, ODATA successfully energised 200 MW in the first phase of campus development – addressing one of the country’s primary challenges for data centre growth: the grid’s historical lag in meeting technological demand. With significant expansion underway towards 400 MW, ODATA states that this investment will offer crucial relief to Mexico’s data centre power supply challenges, especially in Querétaro. “With three anchor hyperscale clients already committed, QR03 is an established, highly connected campus and a critical interconnection hub for Querétaro and Mexico,” says Ricardo Alário, CEO of ODATA. “With abundant power and a strong presence of major cloud and AI providers, we anticipate this campus will play a central role in the development of Mexico’s digital infrastructure.” Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and technological innovation, ODATA is introducing its proprietary Delta Cube (Delta³) cooling innovation to the Mexican market for the first time. Previously implemented in Brazil, Delta³ is a patented air-cooling technology developed by ODATA’s parent company, Aligned Data Centers. Designed to support power densities of up to 50kW per rack, Delta³ allows ODATA’s data centres to maximise space utilisation and significantly reduce the load required to cool them, thereby decreasing energy consumption. Unlike conventional methods that simply push cold air into data halls, Delta³ captures and removes heat directly at the source, creating a hyper-scalable and extremely efficient environment that dynamically adapts to the IT load demands of customers. Additionally, the flexible design of QR03 and Delta³ allows seamless liquid cooling integration, creating hybrid solutions ready for next-gen AI power demands. Beyond supporting the growth of cloud and AI infrastructure in Mexico, QR03 is strategically positioned to serve US market demand. Querétaro’s proximity and connectivity to key US data centre hubs, coupled with current energy constraints in certain US markets, position the campus as a vital resource for regional digital expansion. For more from ODATA, click here.

Hudson InterXchange enhances data centre capacity

Hudson InterXchange (Hudson IX), 60 Hudson Street’s data centre provider, has enhanced its footprint and capabilities with an addition of a 2MW data hall, with a portion of this new capacity designed to deliver up to 40kW of capacity per cabinet - expanding its space to support high density IT workloads. This latest expansion, integrated into Hudson IX’s sixth floor data centre, is designed to meet evolving market demands - supporting high-density loads, with a portion of the new capacity purpose-built for AI and machine learning applications, while also catering to a broad range of customer workloads. “Our goal has always been to anticipate and respond to the needs of our customers,” says Arthur Valhuerdi, Chief Technology Officer of Hudson IX. “This expansion reflects our commitment to delivering world-class, high-performance infrastructure - offering scalable configurations that support everything from a single cabinet to custom cages, in one of New York City’s most connected buildings.” The new and expanded data hall will offer flexible deployment options including single cabinet, multi-cabinet, and bespoke cage configurations, allowing Hudson IX to serve customers of all sizes - from hyperscale-ready platforms to agile enterprise solutions. Customers in the new space will benefit from direct access to over 300 networks and service providers in the building, a hallmark of Hudson IX’s connectivity ecosystem. As part of its ongoing investment in 60 Hudson Street, Hudson IX now spans nearly 173,000 square feet across multiple floors and maintains direct utility access from Con Edison, with a total power capacity of 15MW. This ensures operational resilience and power availability to support today’s compute-intensive demands. The new data hall, designed specifically to support high density IT workloads, will be ready to be moved into by November 2025. For more from Hudson InterXchange, click here.

Start Campus achieves OCP certification for Portugal data centres

Start Campus, a company focused on designing, building and operating a new generation of sustainable data centres, announced today that its operational SIN01 and planned SIN02 data centres have been officially certified as Open Compute Project (OCP) Ready v2 for Hyperscale data centres. These are the first facilities in Southern Europe, and just the third and fourth in Europe, to meet this new benchmark. Start Campus says that the rigorous assessment underscores the company's commitment to open standards, sustainability, and scalable digital infrastructure. The OCP Ready certification, granted by the Open Compute Project Foundation, recognises that SIN01 and SIN02 meet the highest standards set for hyperscale data centres and AI/HPC workloads. This certification is a mark of trust, providing a competitive edge and a strategic advantage by ensuring faster deployments, reduced total cost of ownership, and seamless integration with cutting-edge technologies such as AI and high-performance computing (HPC). The OCP Ready v2 facilities are designed with openness, modularity, and interoperability at their core, delivering superior energy efficiency and environmental leadership. To achieve OCP Ready certification, Start Campus had to undergo a detailed OCP Ready v2 assessment of its operational SIN01 and planned SIN02 facilities, which assess critical factors such as logistics, site access, security, base building infrastructure, and network connectivity. These comprehensive assessments ensure the facilities meet the specific needs of hyperscale companies and align with both OCP standards and industry best practices. This certification confirms that Start Campus’ data centres are optimised to support hyperscale demands and future-proofed for the evolving digital landscape. “OCP Ready certification means our clients can confidently deploy today’s most advanced compute infrastructure, knowing the foundation is built for tomorrow,” says Rob Dunn, CEO of Start Campus. “This achievement is not just a milestone for Start Campus, but a win for hyperscale, cloud, and AI/HPC-driven companies looking to secure their future in Europe in readily available and large-scale data centres.” Located on the south-western edge of Europe, SINES DC is one of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. The SIN01 facility, operational since Q4 2024, delivers up to26 MW of IT capacity, while SIN02, ready to be built for delivery as early as in 2026, will add another 180 MW. These facilities are part of Start Campus’s 1.2 GW SINES Data Campus, built from the ground up to support AI-native workloads, liquid cooling, and high-density compute environments. Both SIN01 and SIN02 are powered by 100% renewable energy and feature an innovative seawater cooling system, enabling them to operate at a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.1 and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) of 0 - impressive metrics that demonstrate Start Campus’ commitment to environmental responsibility without compromising performance. This certification was co-led by OCP Foundation team members, Mark Dansie and Raúl Àlvarez, working within the Data Centre Facilities Project at the OCP. Mark Dansie, OCP Ready Facilities Program Co-Lead, comments, “The certification of Start Campus’ SIN01 and SIN02 facilities as OCP Ready for Hyperscale is a pivotal moment for the European data centre landscape. By aligning with the new v2 specifications, Start Campus demonstrates how strategic facility design can deliver on the evolving demands of hyperscale deployments. It’s a blueprint for how sustainability, performance, and openness can come together to meet the future of compute.” Raúl Àlvarez, European Market Development Manager, adds, “Start Campus’s OCP Ready v2 certification not only highlights its technical excellence, but also its alignment with the OCP Community’s vision of interoperable, efficient, and scalable data centre environments. The SIN01 and SIN02 facilities showcase how the latest global standards can be deployed locally to accelerate digital infrastructure and support the next generation of AI and cloud-native workloads.” This news follows the successful inauguration of SIN01, the first operational facility within the company’s 1.2-gigawatt (GW) Sines Data Campus. For more from Start Campus, click here.

Thorn and Zumtobel partner with National Data Centre Academy

Thorn and its sister brand Zumtobel, both part of the Zumtobel Group, have announced a new partnership with the National Data Centre Academy (NDCA) - a dedicated facility for hands-on training in sustainable, energy-efficient data centre operations. As Silver Sponsors of the Academy, Thorn and Zumtobel will provide high-performance lighting solutions throughout the venue, including Zumtobel's TECTON continuous-row lighting system, which is already a proven success across several critical infrastructure projects in the UK. The NDCA is seeking to redefine data centre training with immersive, real-world learning experiences. Inspired by the Eden Project and founded on a commitment to energy-efficient and sustainable IT operations, the Academy is on a mission to raise standards across the industry. John Booth, Technical Director of the NDCA, comments, "Data centres are critical infrastructure, and with this partnership, we can demonstrate exactly how world-class engineering, lighting design, and sustainability can go hand in hand. Lighting plays a crucial role in the function and aesthetic of modern data centres. With Zumtobel and Thorn's involvement, we can show what best practices look like from the moment our digital technicians enter the building." Ed Haslett, Divisional Director for Critical Facilities, Thorn and Zumtobel UK & Ireland, adds, "We're not just lighting a space - we're supporting the industry's future. Our solutions are proven in live data centre environments and now they'll help train the next generation too." This partnership builds on Thorn and Zumtobel's growing presence in the data centre sector, including projects like Kao Data, where the TECTON system was key in supporting its low PUE goals and BREEAM Excellent credentials. For more from Zumtobel, click here.

CommScope and Altnets powering the fibre takeover

As part of the UK Government’s Project Gigabit, internet service providers (ISPs) are working to upgrade the nation’s data infrastructure. As one of the UK’s leading fibre suppliers, Brighton-based Altnets has already been at the forefront of bridging the UK’s digital divide. Altnets and CommScope will accelerate these fibre rollouts, improve network resilience, and support the next phase of digital connectivity. Additionally, supplying CommScope’s products paves the way for Altnets to support the rollout of FTTX networks and central offices, which will be of key importance for the future of the nation’s economic prosperity. Paul Britnell, Co-Founder of Altnets, says, “We’re incredibly excited to support CommScope’s initiative to further support the UK telecoms sector, helping ISPs build faster and more resilient networks for the digital future. We are delivering high-density fibre connectivity solutions that are instrumental in FttX networks. Altnets is proud to play a key role in advancing the UK’s digital infrastructure." CommScope's central office fibre optic and broadband solutions give network operators and ISPs access to the scalable, high-quality infrastructure needed to satisfy the increasing demand for ultra-fast broadband and connectivity in the UK. By harnessing Altnets' established market position and logistical expertise, these advanced connectivity solutions will be available throughout the UK. Ronald Van der Kraan, VP Broadband – EMEA, comments, “We are pleased to be working with Altnets, who have vast industry expertise in full fibre products. We look forward to collaborating more to level up the UK’s digital infrastructure.” As a fibre optic specialist, Altnets is in a unique position to efficiently supply CommScope's products to UK clients, guaranteeing that network operators, and ISPs have access to advanced fibre networks with GPON, XGS-PON, and high-density fibre solutions to meet rising bandwidth demands, alongside high-capacity 5G and wireless deployments for fronthaul, backhaul, and small cells. Network operators must prioritise complete authority over their Optical Distribution Frames and fibre management systems and expand into high-processing Central Offices to accommodate the growing demand for data consumption. CommScope and Altnets ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of connectivity by providing innovative solutions that will drive the next phase of digital infrastructure. For more from Altnets, click here.

Kao Data and PepTalk to champion culture at new data centre

Kao Data, a specialist developer and operator of data centres engineered for AI and advanced computing, has partnered with JCA Engineering and global workforce engagement platform, PepTalk, to bring a first-of-its-kind, people-first approach to the construction of its new KLON-03 data centre, which allows AI users to deploy multi-megawatts (MWs) of direct-to-chip, liquid cooled infrastructure, alongside traditional air-cooled servers within the same Technology Suite. As AI workloads continue to reshape global infrastructure demands, Kao Data is setting a new benchmark - combining cutting-edge engineering with a proactive focus on team wellbeing, safety, and performance. By embedding PepTalk’s real-time workforce intelligence into daily site operations, the project aims to elevate decision-making, anticipate risks early, and foster a stronger, safer site culture from the ground up. PepTalk’s platform gathers live, anonymous feedback directly from the workforce, offering leadership a constant pulse on team morale, communication, and engagement. Instead of using feedback purely as a sentiment check, the system enables site managers to identify blind spots, unlock opportunities for improvement, and build a shared culture of accountability. “As we build KLON-03, one of the UK’s most advanced AI-ready facilities, we want the same high standards applied to our technology reflected in the way we support people on site,” says Gavin Fernandez, Commercial & Delivery Director at Kao Data. “PepTalk’s insight helps us stay close to what matters - safety, morale, and team alignment - so we can deliver smarter and faster, with care.” PepTalk has supported major construction projects across Europe and the US, helping reduce incidents, improve retention, and drive measurable cultural improvements. “This partnership with Kao Data and JCA Engineering reflects a shared belief that world-class infrastructure is built not just by engineers, but by engaged, motivated teams,” says James Brogan, CEO and Co-founder of PepTalk. “With PepTalk embedded from day one, KLON-03 is leading the way in how culture can power performance.” For more from Kao Data, click here.

Panduit announces the passing of its Chief Technology Officer

It is with profound sadness that Panduit Corp has announced the unexpected passing of its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Brett Lane on 25 April. In his role as CTO, Dr. Lane was responsible for driving sustainable business growth by delivering a continuous flow of innovative solutions through research, advanced development, and corporate entrepreneurship. “Brett’s passion for innovation was truly contagious, touching everyone who had the privilege of working with him,” comments Shannon McDaniel, Panduit President and CEO. “Over his 25-year career in engineering and product management at Panduit, he was a tireless champion for curiosity, invention, and excellence.” Before becoming CTO in 2018, Dr. Lane held a variety of technical and commercial leadership positions within the Panduit R&D organisation. His passion for technological advancement and a customer-focused approach led his teams to deliver ground-breaking innovations while delivering efficient volume manufacturing processes and effective product life cycle management. Additionally, his contributions to the communications industry through standards development organisations and technical forums have greatly enhanced Panduit's operations. Dr. Lane was respected widely as an industry expert with a highly collaborative style, holding multiple leadership positions within the domestic and international standards community. He also authored over 40 technical publications and holds 19 US patents. For more from Panduit, click here.

Innodisk launches SSD series for data centre applications

Innodisk, an industrial-grade flash storage provider, has announced the launch of its latest PCIe Gen5 SSD series, which is designed to meet the OCP Data Centre NVMe SSD spec v2.0 and the increasing demands of AI model training, big data analytics, and data-intensive environments. The new series supports multiple form factors, including U.2, as well as EDSFF E1.S, E3.S, and the brand new E3.L for data centre applications, catering to the diverse needs of enterprise and data centre environments. Innodisk tells us that the new series marks a new chapter for the company in terms of further fulfilling enterprise demands. The Innodisk PCIe Gen5 SSD, built with the latest PCIe Gen 5 x4 interface and NVMe 2.0 protocol, is designed to overcome the speed and latency limitations of traditional storage interfaces. With up to 128TB of high density NAND storage, it delivers speeds of up to 14GB/s (read) and 10GB/s (write), enabling lightning-fast data transfers for data-intensive applications. Enterprise data centres managing large-scale storage deployments and multi-tiered environments often require out-of-band and batch management capabilities, which present growing challenges. Innodisk PCIe Gen5 SSD addresses these demands with NVMe-MI for streamlined SSD management and multi namespace support, ensuring scalable and efficient storage operations. To ensure high quality and alignment with market trends, the PCIe Gen5 SSD aims to enhance integration with industry-leading data centre standards, such as OCP Data Centre NVMe SSD spec v2.0. Additionally, it is intended to be built for seamless integration with VMware, optimising compatibility with virtualisedenvironments and overall system performance. Innodisk’s PCIe Gen5 SSD also features advanced security mechanisms, ensuring robust data protection and seamless integration. Secure Boot technology authenticates digital signatures during firmware updates, preventing unauthorised modifications and ensuring that only trusted firmware is executed.