Nordic Data Center Week: School Students Got a Unique Insight into the Engine Behind the Internet

Christine Kjær Jacobsen • October 9, 2025

Nordic Data Center Week 2025 gave school students in Fredericia and Esbjerg the opportunity to get up close to the data centers that keep our digital society running.

When children play Roblox, stream Netflix, or log into Aula, they rarely think about what happens behind the scenes. But during Nordic Data Center Week, students in both Esbjerg and Fredericia got the chance to see where the internet actually “lives” — and how data centers can also contribute to the green transition.

“We launched Nordic Data Center Week last year as part of a broader awareness and outreach initiative, where data centers aim to strengthen dialogue with the local communities they are part of,” says Christine Kjær Jacobsen, Marketing & Communication Manager at Datacenter Industrien.

Fredericia: Google and FMS Open Their Doors

In Fredericia, several school classes were invited inside by Fredericia Maskinmesterskole (FMS). Students were introduced to what a data center is, why security and cooling play a crucial role, and how excess heat can be reused in district heating systems.

For many, it was an eye-opener to see that their digital everyday life has a very physical foundation in large server halls. The visit was linked to FMS’s data center specialization program, developed in collaboration with Google and several Danish companies.

“These types of partnerships help bridge business, education, and opportunity. It is a strong example of how companies, educational institutions, and young people can come together around knowledge, curiosity, and the skills of the future — while also showing young people the many local career paths the data center industry can offer,” says Ruth Axø, Business Playmaker at Fredericia Municipality.

Esbjerg: Bulk Gives Students Insight

In Esbjerg, Bulk Infrastructure opened its data center to local school classes. Here, students were given a tour and an introduction to how Esbjerg’s role as an energy metropolis also makes the city an ideal hub for digital infrastructure.

“We want to make data centers more tangible for young people. When students see how we work with both technology and sustainability in practice, they realize that this is an industry where they themselves can help shape the future,” says Rune Bråten of Bulk Infrastructure.

The Sustainable Data Center of the Future

As part of the program, all participating children were challenged to draw the world’s most sustainable data center. To motivate participation, prize money for the class fund was at stake. Most of the children joined enthusiastically with creative ideas.

Among a strong field of imaginative drawings, the winning entry from a 6th-grade student at Fredericia Friskole stood out for thinking outside the box. The drawing included solutions involving the use of excess heat, alternative energy sources, and even placing a data center out in the North Sea.

The winner of the drawing competition was surprised with a diploma during the school’s morning assembly by representatives from Datacenter Industrien and Business Fredericia.

The Skills of the Future Start Today

The purpose of the school visits is to build technological understanding and give young people first-hand insight into an industry that will require many new skills in the years ahead.

“The school visits are an important step in opening up the industry and making it accessible to the next generation. When children see the connection between TikTok, Aula, and green energy, they understand that data centers are not just about technology — they are part of our everyday lives and our future,” says Merima Dzanic, Head of Strategy & Operations at Datacenter Industrien.