Data Centers and AI Infrastructure as Drivers of New Industrial Value Creation

The rapid expansion of data centers and AI infrastructure is creating significant growth opportunities worldwide. In particular, areas such as energy generation and storage, thermal management, cooling, and air filtration are seeing the emergence of new markets and technological requirements.

As a result, data centers are becoming a key industry within the digital economy. Schlegel and Partner supports companies in identifying and capturing these opportunities through in-depth market analysis, strategic consulting, and strong technical expertise across the entire value chain.

Our Expertise in Data Centers

• Market analyses and forecasts for data center infrastructure (e.g., DCIM, cooling technologies, components)
• Strategic consulting to identify new business fields and growth segments
• Execution of M&A screenings along the data center value chain
• Technology insights in thermal management (e.g., coolants, cold plates, immersion cooling)
• Analysis of energy mix strategies and power infrastructure
• Access to a global network of decision-makers through expert interviews and primary research

Key Trends and Drivers in the Data Center Market

• Rapidly increasing demand for computing power driven by AI, cloud computing, and data-intensive applications
• Expansion of hyperscale and edge data centers worldwide
• Rising requirements for energy efficiency and sustainable operations
• Emergence of advanced cooling technologies (e.g., liquid cooling, direct-to-chip, immersion cooling)
• Increasing importance of energy availability and integration of renewable energy sources
• Growing chip power density driving higher demands on thermal management
• Development of specialized infrastructure for AI workloads

Selected Project and Study Topics

•  Analysis of growth opportunities in the global Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) market, including adjacent data center infrastructure components
• Assessment of business opportunities for automotive cooling systems in immersion cooling solutions for data centers
• Market assessment of rack infrastructure components and modular data center solutions, including prefabricated and modular data centers
• Evaluation of new application areas for high-performance materials in electrical, structural, and insulation applications within data center environments
• Market outlook for cold plates in direct-to-chip liquid cooling systems for high-density data centers
• Analysis of cooling technology trends in data centers, including implications for compressor manufacturers and HVAC system suppliers
• Global market analysis of advanced thermal interface materials (TIMs), including thermal pastes and heat conduction materials for data center applications
• Evaluation of emerging applications for high-performance and high-temperature plastics in electrical systems and components
• Market study on filtration systems, air quality, and contamination control requirements in critical environments such as data centers and semiconductor manufacturing
• Market screening and competitive analysis of testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services in the data center ecosystem