Danish Data Center Industry (DDI)
As part of Nordic Data Center Week, the Nordic data center industry focused on the crucial role data centers play in our digital society. Throughout the week, over 150 students from 5th and 6th grade visited a local data center in Viborg, Fredericia, or Esbjerg. Additionally, data centers were at the center of various dialogues across the country.
Nordic Data Center Week is a collaboration between Nordic data center organizations, aiming to promote knowledge and understanding of the role of data centers in a digitalized society.
Evaluating the Week: Insights from Industry Leaders
Director Henrik Hansen reflects on the week: “This is the first time we have hosted Nordic Data Center Week, and the interest has been overwhelming. We have learned that there is great curiosity about our industry – but we must improve at communicating the essential function we fulfill. This has inspired us to continue working on raising awareness about the role of data centers in society.”
Head of Strategy & Operations, Merima Dzanic, adds: “The purpose of Nordic Data Center Week is not only to spread awareness about the role of data centers in society but also to create a framework for local communities, businesses, and data centers to collaborate even more closely in shaping the best conditions for green transition and digitalization.”
Technology Awareness and Career Opportunities in Schools
In Viborg, Fredericia, and Esbjerg, 150 schoolchildren from 5th and 6th grade were introduced to the essential functions of data centers in society.
At Bulk in Esbjerg, two 6th-grade classes got a close-up look at the data center and the support functions that keep it running. “You might be the only children in Denmark who have been inside a data center,” said Site Manager Rune Bråten. “That is quite unique.”
Security was the first thing the children noticed, and it was also the first topic on the agenda. “Security is very important in a data center,” emphasized Rune Bråten. “We must protect our customers' data while also ensuring the safety of our team members.”
Data Centers Enable Everything from Roblox to Remote Work
The data center industry believes that the role of data centers in digitalization and the green transition is a topic of great interest to Danish children. It is also a crucial element in their digital literacy and technological understanding.
“I am impressed by the knowledge the children already have and how quickly they grasped the role a data center plays in their daily lives. Now that they have visited a data center, they understand that an entire industry operates behind the internet,” said Merima Dzanic, Head of Operations & Strategy at Danish Data Center Industry. “For children at this age, terms like CPU (Central Processing Unit), hard drive, power supply, and cooling systems are already part of their vocabulary, possibly because they are born digital. This will be a great advantage when they enter the job market.”
For many of the children, it was an eye-opener to realize that everyday activities like gaming and texting rely on data centers.
Collaboration: The Key to Securing Future Talent
The school visits also provided an opportunity to discuss job and career opportunities in the data center industry. During each visit, employees shared insights into daily life at a data center and the educational paths that led them there.
The data center industry expects future challenges in recruiting qualified professionals, especially for technical roles. As a relatively new industry in Denmark, a lack of awareness is a key barrier to reaching its full potential.
During the Q&A sessions, children showed great interest in how to get a job in a data center. They asked about salaries, job requirements, and whether working at a data center was enjoyable.
In Fredericia, Business Fredericia's career advisor Ruth Axø was also excited about Nordic Data Center Week: “As a career advisor, I am pleased to see bridges being built between young people, education, and the business community. Understanding technology, sustainability, and digitalization is crucial for Denmark's youth to remain competitive in the future job market. Close collaboration between tech companies and schools is essential to ensuring these competencies.”
The Sustainable Data Center of the Future – Designed by School children?
As part of the program, all participating children were challenged to design the world's most sustainable data center. To encourage creativity, a class fund prize was at stake. Most children participated enthusiastically, presenting innovative ideas.
The winning entry from Kvaglund School in Esbjerg stood out for its use of sustainable materials and out-of-the-box solutions. The design included groundwater cooling, solar panels, and wind turbines for power, and a fence made of recycled plastic and metal. Additionally, drones were incorporated for security and natural disaster prediction. On behalf of Danish Data Center Industry, Rune Bråten (a board member of DDI) from Bulk Data Centers visited Kvaglund School to present the prize to the delighted children.
Data Centers Take Center Stage at FREDERICIA TALKS
FREDERICIA TALKS, a leadership conference organized by Business Fredericia, was part of the Nordic Data Center Week program. Over 200 business professionals attended to learn about Fredericia's unique position in the green transition. Seven speakers shared their perspectives on leading Denmark through the green digital transformation. During the event, Director Henrik Hansen from DDI highlighted why data centers are the backbone of the digital society.
Henrik Hansen elaborates: “Artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly change the market in the coming years. Specifically, we can expect more data centers in the Danish landscape. Local community support and understanding are crucial to ensuring that Denmark continues to attract the right resources, investments, and conditions for data centers.”
About Nordic Data Center Week
Nordic Data Center Week is a collaboration between Nordic data center organizations to promote knowledge and understanding of the role of data centers in a digitalized society. Nordic Data Center Week 2024 was the first of its kind, with events centered around the local communities of Viborg, Fredericia, and Esbjerg, where data centers are already an integral part of the region.
Thank you to all our partners who made Nordic Data Center Week 2024 possible.
Contact us if you are interested in participating in Nordic Data Center Week 2025.
Read more about Nordic Data Center Week 2024 here: https://www.datacenterindustrien.dk/nordic-data-center-week-2024
For further information, contact:
Christine Kjær Jacobsen
Marketing & Communication Manager
(45) 2975 2932 chja@datacenterindustrien.dk
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