Using artificial intelligence (AI) in factories and plants requires access to vast amounts of data. As a result, the demands on computing power, storage space and connectivity are continuously rising. To scale AI applications, providers require robust data centers. From 5 to 8 April, HANNOVER MESSE showcases the possibilities. Exhibitors include companies that plan, build, and operate data centers as well as providers of AI solutions for factories, energy systems, and supply chains.

In July 2026, the European Commission launched the call for proposals for up to seven AI Gigafactories. These are data centers intended for the training and further development of AI. Each center is set to feature over 100,000 AI accelerators. Up to 10 billion euros in public funding are expected to mobilize at least 20 billion euros in private investment. According to the German Federal Government, at least one Gigafactory is to be built in Germany. The selection process is scheduled for early 2027, right before HANNOVER MESSE.

AI Gigafactories meet the enormous computing demands of central AI models. However, many industrial applications – such as quality assurance or energy management – require smaller, decentralized capacities with minimal latency. Choosing the right data center (on-premise, colocation or cloud) always depends on the specific use case. As a result, demand for hybrid system architectures is on the rise.

“The major AI projects in Europe are just beginning. No one today knows exactly what tomorrow’s AI data center will look like – that’s why we must consider location, energy and architecture holistically right from the start,” explains Alexander Hauser, Managing Director of Hyceon (formerly TTSP HWP) as well as Advisory Board member and designated Vice President of the GDA (German Datacenter Association). “Data centers are becoming part of the industrial infrastructure – for example, when their waste heat supplies districts and production facilities.”

Datacenter Pavilion in Hall 17: Meeting point for solutions

The Datacenter Pavilion in Hall 17 provides data center solution providers with a targeted platform for the industrial market. Exhibitors meet directly with decision-makers seeking digital infrastructure in an environment surrounded by topics such as AI, connectivity, and IT/OT security. An outdoor area for live demonstrations brings solutions to life. Also on the open-air site is a steel modular data center that was constructed entirely without concrete. Adhering to the requirements of the EU Taxonomy and circular construction principles, it serves as an example of sustainable development and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Additional companies from the fields of automation, digitalization and energy also present products and applications for AI Gigafactories and industrial infrastructures. These include, for example, Amazon Web Services, Connaxion, Hyceon, IONOS, Leadership Datacenter, Logstrup, Rittal, Schneider Electric, Schwarz Digits, and Siemens.

Topics range from AI data centers and high-performance computing to flexible, cloud-based, and decentralized server structures for applications in manufacturing, automation, quality assurance, and energy management. Another focus is sustainable infrastructure, featuring solutions for power supply, grid connection, cooling, and waste heat utilization.

“Data centers are the factories of the digital future. AI needs computing, computing needs infrastructure. The data center focus of HANNOVER MESSE 2027 closes the industrial value chain – from construction to production to computing,” emphasizes Holger Zultner, Managing Director of Leadership Datacenter.

“No power plant operates without a substation. And no digital resilience without a connectivity hub. Everyone talks about cloud and AI data centres, but the connectivity infrastructure behind them receives far less attention. Yet computing power only delivers its full value when network operators, cloud and AI providers, and industry can exchange data directly. With Connaxion, we are building a new platform that serves as a connectivity hub, the backbone of Europe’s digital infrastructure. HANNOVER MESSE brings together the companies whose data, machines and data centers need to communicate with one another,” says Jens-Peter Feidner, CEO of Connaxion and Chair of the Data Centre Working Group at Bitkom.

The conference program also highlights the data center theme. On Tuesday of the trade fair, a session on the Center Stage focuses on “AI Resilience & Sovereignty”. Under the motto “Datacenter Denkfabrik” (Data Center Think Tank), the Solution Labs on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are dedicated to data centers. During master classes, roundtable discussions, and technical presentations, providers engage in direct dialogue with users to learn about their specific computing power, energy efficiency, and connectivity requirements.

Further information about the topic Datacenter at HANNOVER MESSE is available at www.hannovermesse.de/en/for-exhibitors/display-categories/digital-solutions/datacenter .