Data centers: Why Germany needs a professorship for data center organization

What are the current challenges of digitalization in Germany?

Germany faces a fundamental problem: despite annual investments of several billion euros in digitalization, artificial intelligence, and robotics, the country lacks an adequate data center infrastructure. This discrepancy between digital ambition and the actual technical infrastructure is particularly evident in international comparisons. While Germany has an IT connection capacity of only 2.7 gigawatts, the USA, with 48 gigawatts, and China, with 38 gigawatts, are far ahead. This structural weakness not only jeopardizes the competitiveness of the German economy but also the country's strategic independence in digital affairs.

Although Germany boasts the largest digital infrastructure hub in Europe, with over 2,000 data centers and an IT connection capacity exceeding 2,700 MW, this is insufficient to meet growing demands. Experts predict that the need for cloud services and AI applications will develop exponentially in the coming years, while capacity expansion is progressing significantly slower than required.

Why are data centers so important for modern society?

Data centers form the invisible backbone of modern digital society. Without them, neither cloud services nor AI applications, networked production facilities, nor data-driven business processes would function. They are the often-forgotten hubs of digitalization where everything converges – from simple email communication to complex industrial control systems.

The importance of data centers becomes particularly clear when considering their role as critical infrastructure. Their failure can cripple critical infrastructure and have far-reaching social and economic consequences. When a data center fails, not only individual companies grind to a halt, but often entire industries or even fundamental societal functions. This is demonstrated by regular outages even among established cloud providers, who, despite using state-of-the-art technology, struggle with the challenges of highly available data center operations.

Data centers in Germany already consume approximately 20 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, representing four percent of total electricity consumption. Transmission system operators anticipate a dramatic increase to as much as 88 billion kilowatt-hours by 2045. These figures underscore the enormous importance of data centers for Germany's energy infrastructure and climate goals.

What are the geopolitical risks of the current situation?

The dependence on a few US-based providers poses a significant geopolitical risk. According to recent studies, Europe possesses only four percent of global AI capacity, while 70 percent is located in the US. This one-sided dependence makes Germany and Europe vulnerable to political decisions and trade conflicts that are beyond their control.

The scenario is no longer merely theoretical: Should geopolitical tensions lead to trade restrictions or punitive tariffs on digital services, Germany could face a sudden loss or drastic increase in the cost of key cloud infrastructures. This would massively impact public administration, healthcare, energy supply, and industry, and jeopardize the country's digital sovereignty.

In this context, digital sovereignty means the ability to operate critical digital infrastructures independently. It is not about complete isolation, but rather the strategic capability to remain operational in times of crisis and to set one's own priorities. A resilient digital infrastructure is therefore a cornerstone of European innovation, economic security, and technological sovereignty.

Why is the current research and training situation inadequate?

This is the core problem that Dr. Robert Scholderer addresses in his open letter to the federal ministries: Germany does not have a single university chair that systematically deals with the organization and further development of data centers. This gap in the academic landscape is particularly serious because data centers are highly complex ecosystems that must be designed to be energy-efficient, secure, resilient, and future-proof from an organizational perspective.

Deggendorf Institute of Technology has taken an important first step by offering the "Data Center Management – ​​Smart Infrastructure Operation" degree program since 2022. This program was developed in close cooperation with the Association for Innovative Computing Centers and aims to counteract the shortage of skilled workers in the industry. However, it is a rather practice-oriented approach, which, while important, does not fully address the fundamental research gaps.

An optimal data center infrastructure that makes Germany less dependent on external providers requires scientific methods and qualified training, such as that provided by a university degree with a corresponding research component. The complexity of the subject matter demands interdisciplinary approaches that combine computer science, engineering, economics, supercomputing, and cybersecurity.

Which specific research areas would a professorship cover?

A professorship for Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization would cover several critical research areas. Initially, the focus would be on developing new models for security and compliance in accordance with the NIS-2 directive. The NIS-2 directive, which came into force on January 16, 2023, and had to be transposed into national law by October 2024, imposes significantly stricter requirements on the cybersecurity of critical infrastructures.

The directive affects approximately 30,000 companies in Germany and introduces new obligations. Data centers, as critical infrastructure, must implement comprehensive security measures, conduct risk management, report incidents, and take technical and organizational measures for cybersecurity. A specialized university chair could develop scientifically sound standards and procedures in this area that go beyond mere regulatory compliance.

Another key research area would be the energy efficiency and sustainability of data centers. The Energy Efficiency Act already stipulates that new data centers must comply with certain Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) values ​​and utilize waste heat. Data centers commencing operations from July 1, 2026, onward must utilize at least 10 percent of the waste heat they generate, with this figure gradually increasing to 20 percent by 2028. The scientific investigation of optimal solutions to these challenges would be an important task for a dedicated professorship.

How much investment is needed for adequate infrastructure?

The figures regarding investment needs are impressive and illustrate the scale of the challenge. Germany must invest between 60 and 75 billion euros by 2030 to remain competitive in the global race for AI infrastructure. For AI infrastructure and data centers alone, an investment of approximately 60 billion euros is needed by 2030 to close a capacity gap of 1.4 GW.

The Deloitte study “AI Infrastructure: How Germany Can Catch Up in the Global AI Race” shows that the capacity of high-performance data centers for AI applications in Germany needs to triple by 2030 – from the current 1.6 GW to 4.8 GW. However, only 0.7 GW is currently under construction and another 1.3 GW is under development, revealing a significant investment gap.

The high costs result not only from investments in hardware, but also from Germany's structural disadvantages. German data centers have approximately 12 percent higher construction costs than those in Amsterdam and 17 percent higher than in Madrid. Furthermore, electricity prices in Germany are almost twice as high as in the US, with electricity costs accounting for up to 60 percent of a data center's total operating costs.

Currently, approximately €2.9 billion is invested annually in data center buildings and technical building equipment. Of this, roughly €2.2 billion goes towards equipment and systems for air conditioning, power supply, and other building technology. The annual investment volume in IT hardware, including servers, storage solutions, and network equipment, exceeds €10 billion.

What role does cybersecurity play in data centers?

Cybersecurity is a crucial aspect of data center operations, gaining in importance due to increasing digitalization and the growing threat landscape. Data centers face numerous threats, ranging from physical and environmental hazards to sophisticated cyberattacks. These range from malware and phishing attacks to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which aim to overload data center networks and disrupt services.

The NIS-2 directive significantly tightens the minimum IT security requirements for critical infrastructures and affects considerably more companies than before. For over 30,000 affected companies in Germany, security obligations are increasing. The directive mandates comprehensive security measures with broad scope throughout the entire company: risk management, incident reporting, technical measures, and governance.

A particularly critical aspect is the extensive scope of NIS-2 implementation, encompassing all IT systems, components, and processes used to deliver services. This includes, for example, office IT and other IT systems operated by the organization. The primary responsibility for NIS-2 implementation lies with senior management and cannot be delegated.

The expanded sanctions regulations introduce new offenses and increased fines ranging from €100,000 to €20 million, some of which are linked to global revenue. This underscores the seriousness with which legislators are addressing the cybersecurity of data centers.

How could a professorship contribute to digital sovereignty?

A professorship in Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization could significantly contribute to strengthening Europe's digital sovereignty. Digital sovereignty is not just a political buzzword, but a strategic necessity that describes the ability to operate critical digital infrastructures independently.

The chair could make concrete contributions in several areas. First, it would develop scientifically sound standards for the design and operation of sovereign data centers. These standards would need to encompass not only technical aspects but also organizational, legal, and economic dimensions. Developing European alternatives to American and Chinese standards would be an important step toward reducing technological dependencies.

Another important contribution would be research into resilient data center architectures. These would need to be designed to remain functional even in the event of critical component failure or external attacks. Geo-redundant data center concepts that guarantee maximum reliability could be developed and optimized. Ideally, data centers should be located no more than in earthquake zone 1 and have a minimum distance of 200 km between them to maximize reliability.

Developing educational programs for skilled workers would be a third important component. The shortage of skilled workers in the data center industry is already a limiting factor. A university chair could not only develop bachelor's and master's degree programs, but also offer continuing education programs for already employed professionals.

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Which locations are suitable for such a professorship?

Suitable locations for a professorship in Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization include renowned universities that already offer interdisciplinary programs in fields such as computer science, engineering, economics, supercomputing, or cybersecurity. Germany has several locations that could meet these requirements.

The Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Munich would be an obvious candidate. As one of the three high-performance computing centers of the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing, it has over 60 years of experience and employs more than 300 IT specialists and researchers. The LRZ develops innovative technologies for sustainable data center operation and researches future technologies such as quantum computing. Its close ties to Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Technical University of Munich would create ideal conditions for an interdisciplinary professorship.

The High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS) would be another suitable location. With its supercomputer "Hawk," HLRS operates one of the world's most powerful computers and possesses extensive expertise in high-performance computing. The University of Stuttgart already has strong faculties in the relevant disciplines and could support an interdisciplinary approach.

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) would also be a possibility, especially given that Dr. Robert Scholderer, the initiator of the demand for such a professorship, earned his doctorate there. KIT has strong faculties in computer science, electrical engineering, and industrial engineering, and already has experience in interdisciplinary research.

Frankfurt am Main, as Europe's leading data center location with over 1,050 MW of installed IT capacity, would also be a strategically advantageous location. Its proximity to the largest German and European data centers would facilitate practical research and industry collaborations. Goethe University Frankfurt and the Technical University of Darmstadt could jointly support such an initiative.

What could the financing of such a professorship look like?

Funding for a professorship in Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization could be achieved in various ways. Given its strategic importance for Germany's digital sovereignty, public funding by the federal and state governments would be the obvious choice. The Federal Ministry for Digitalization and the Federal Minister for Research and Technology, to whom Dr. Scholderer addressed his open letter, could launch a corresponding initiative.

Private funding from industry would be another option. Large technology companies, data center operators, and energy suppliers have a direct interest in research and education in this field. An endowed professorship, funded by several companies in the sector, could represent a sustainable solution. The Association of Innovative Data Centers, which already contributed to the development of the degree program at Deggendorf Institute of Technology, could act as coordinator for such an initiative.

European funding programs offer a third source of financing. Programs such as Horizon Europe or the European Green Deal could provide funding for research into sustainable and secure data centers. The strategic importance for Europe's digital sovereignty would justify such funding.

A combination of public and private funding seems the most realistic approach. Basic funding could be provided publicly, while specific research projects could be financed by industry partners or European programs. This would ensure both scientific independence and the practical relevance of the research.

What specific effects would such a professorship have?

A professorship for Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization would have several concrete positive effects. First, it would help close the skills gap, which is already a limiting factor for the growth of the data center industry. By training specialists with sound scientific and practical knowledge, Germany could strengthen its position in international competition.

The development of German and European standards for data center organization would be another important outcome. Instead of adopting American or Chinese standards, Germany could develop its own standards tailored to European needs and values. This would contribute to technological sovereignty and make German companies less dependent on foreign technology providers.

Research into sustainable and energy-efficient data centers would help Germany achieve its climate goals. With a projected increase in data center electricity consumption to up to 88 billion kilowatt-hours by 2045, the development of efficient technologies and operating concepts is of enormous importance for the energy transition.

Innovation in cybersecurity would be a fourth important area. The development of new security concepts and technologies would not only make German data centers more secure, but could also become a major export success. German security technology enjoys a good international reputation and could be further strengthened through scientific research.

The overarching effect would ultimately be the strengthening of Germany's and Europe's digital sovereignty. By developing independent skills and technologies, Germany would become less dependent on foreign providers and could draw on its own resources in times of crisis.

What challenges would need to be overcome during implementation?

Establishing a professorship for Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization would present several challenges. The interdisciplinary nature of the field requires the integration of various scientific disciplines, which is complex both organizationally and in terms of content. Such a professorship would need to combine expertise in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, business administration, and law.

Recruiting suitable professors presents a further challenge. The field is still relatively new, and there are few academics who possess the necessary combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Dr. Robert Scholderer, with his expertise in Service Level Agreements and IT service catalogs, would be a suitable candidate, but the field needs several experts for different sub-areas.

Acquiring suitable laboratory equipment and infrastructure would be costly. A professorship in data center organization requires not only theoretical research but also practical laboratory environments where various technologies and concepts can be tested. This necessitates significant investments in hardware and software.

Coordination with industry is crucial for success, but also challenging. The interests of science and industry must be reconciled without compromising scientific independence. At the same time, it must be ensured that research remains relevant to practice and does not become overly theoretical.

International networking is also important, but difficult to implement. Since data centers are a global phenomenon, German research must remain internationally competitive, even if it is to contribute to digital sovereignty. This requires a balanced approach between national interests and international cooperation.

What could the future of the German data center landscape look like?

With an established professorship for Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization, Germany could assume a leading role in the European and global data center landscape. The scientific foundation would lead to more innovative and efficient solutions that could be in demand internationally.

Frankfurt am Main could further solidify its position as a leading European data center location. With over 1,050 MW of installed IT capacity and a growth pipeline of up to 1.3 GW, Frankfurt is already Europe's leading data center hub. Scientific support could help overcome bottlenecks in network connections and power supply, and accelerate this growth.

The development of sustainable data center concepts could make Germany a pioneer in green technologies. With the legal obligation to utilize waste heat and ambitious climate targets, Germany has already created regulatory incentives. Scientific research could develop innovative solutions that go beyond the minimum requirements.

Strengthening digital sovereignty would make Germany and Europe less dependent on American and Chinese technology providers. Domestic standards and technologies could be developed and marketed internationally. This would not only strengthen strategic independence but also create new export opportunities.

Training highly qualified specialists would alleviate the skills shortage in the industry and make Germany an attractive location for international data center providers. Well-trained specialists are a crucial location factor for the knowledge-intensive data center industry.

The integration of quantum computing and other future technologies could be accelerated through scientific research. The Leibniz Supercomputing Centre is already researching the connection between quantum processors and supercomputers. A specialized professorship could systematically advance this development and give Germany a competitive edge in the next generation of data centers.

In the medium term, Germany could develop a network of sovereign, sustainable, and highly secure data centers that could serve as a model for other countries. The combination of scientific excellence, regulatory incentives, and industrial expertise would make Germany a global benchmark for modern data center concepts.

Why is swift action necessary?

Dr. Robert Scholderer's call for a professorship in data center organization gets to the heart of a strategic problem facing Germany. While other countries are massively expanding their digital infrastructure, strengthening both capacity and the scientific foundations, Germany risks falling behind.

The figures speak for themselves: Germany needs €60 billion in investments by 2030 to remain competitive. Without a sound scientific basis and a systematic approach, this money cannot be used optimally. A professorship would provide the necessary expertise to manage these investments efficiently and achieve maximum impact.

Geopolitical risks are increasing daily. Germany's dependence on a few US providers makes it vulnerable to political decisions and trade conflicts beyond its control. Digital sovereignty is not an option, but a necessity for a country that wants to maintain its economic and political autonomy.

The challenges of cybersecurity and sustainability are further exacerbated by the NIS-2 Directive and the Energy Efficiency Act. Without scientific support, many companies will struggle to meet these requirements cost-effectively.

The shortage of skilled workers in the data center industry is steadily worsening. Without systematic training of specialists, Germany will not be able to implement and operate the planned capacity expansions.

Germany still has the opportunity to assume a leading role in the European and global data center landscape. With its strong industrial base, its scientific tradition, and its central location in Europe, the country possesses all the prerequisites for a successful digital transformation. A professorship in Digital Infrastructures and Data Center Organization would be an important building block in seizing this opportunity and preparing Germany for the digital future.

Time is of the essence. Every day without systematic scientific research into this strategically important topic is a lost day in international competition. Policymakers should take Dr. Scholderer's proposal seriously and act quickly before it is too late.

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