The 6th Data Centre Expert Summit 2026, held at area3 in Dreieich, brought together experts from the data centre industry, the energy sector, planning, network infrastructure, politics and public administration. The focus was on key questions relating to the further development of digital infrastructure. A review.

With Dr Béla Waldhauser stepping back from active involvement, the eco Data Centre Competence Group is restructuring its leadership team. Going forward, Joachim Astel (noris network AG), Jens Leuchters (Global Switch), Anne Omar (FOGTEC) and Martin Zunken (Robert C. Spies) will jointly lead the Competence Group.

The winners of the eco Data Centre Award 2026 have been announced: at the awards ceremony on the eve of the Data Centre Expert Summit 2026, an independent six-member expert jury recognised innovative data centre projects and outstanding individuals in the data centre sector.

Grid connection is increasingly becoming a decisive factor in new data centre projects. Daniel Marhewka, a partner and Attorney-at-Law at Fieldfisher, outlines the legal hurdles involved and how greater planning certainty can be achieved.