The 2025 Datacloud Global Congress in Cannes brought together more than 4,500 senior leaders across the data center sector. This year, key discussion themes included emerging data center operational and investment models for AI transformation, the complex challenges of securing adequate land and power for high-performance compute environments, and the widening industry skills gap.
For Salute, this three-day event was especially significant, marking the first time representatives from both our Americas and EMEA teams came together to meet at the industry’s flagship event. Our delegation included senior leadership—Mark Reynolds (Chief Growth Officer) and Jon Healy (Managing Director, EMEA)—alongside Stephen Lorimer (VP of Professional Services, EMEA) and sales team members Richard Clifford (VP of Sales and Solutions, EMEA), John Rutherfurd (Director of Sales, EMEA), and Ronnie Cameron (Account Director, EMEA). The team took this unique opportunity to engage with existing and new customers, investors, and industry leaders.
Following the congress, the Salute team highlighted their main observations:
- AI facilities and the unprecedented pace of compute demand dominated discussions, with noticeably many more new operators and investors attending the event. While opinions varied on the progress of high-performance compute developments, there was broad consensus that the need to accelerate for high-density workloads is industry-wide, across hyperscalers, colocation and enterprise models, and the pace does not seem to be slowing. This is necessitating advancements in data center design and cooling solutions to scale infrastructure and support AI-driven workloads.
- With significant technological change comes equally significant challenges. The widening industry skills gap emerged as perhaps the most pressing concern, with many attendees citing limited talent pipelines as a significant constraint on both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning, and design. While this topic is not new, next-generation infrastructure models are putting pressure on operators to skill up for high-performance compute environments from design, build and operate to implementing standardized operating procedures.
- Beyond workforce readiness, another pressing challenge that dominated discussions was the growing gap between rising demand and the availability of power and development-ready sites. Emerging power-rich regions such as the Nordics are experiencing significant growth in large-scale new builds, from hyperscale and cloud facilities to neo cloud infrastructures designed for high-density GPU-based AI and machine learning workloads, but as pressure mounts to align new facilities’ planning with resource availability across existing regions, there will be a need to adapt traditional data center models to accommodate AI-specific operational requirements. This will involve fundamentally rethinking data center design, cooling systems, power distribution, and operational workflows to support the high-density, high-performance demands of AI workloads.
- With new capital and larger investment funds entering the market, bridging the gap between investor ambitions and capital deployment is a real need, specifically in relation to high-performance compute facilities. Many discussions revealed that while investors may have secured funding and there is access to power, the expertise is in limited numbers, which could slow down development. The conversation is clearly shifting from professional services simply identifying site development opportunities to providing a fully integrated approach that can connect investment strategy with design, delivery, and operational know-how.
- The conversations would not be complete without a focus on sustainability. There is a growing number of data center providers whose propositions are grounded in environmental and sustainability values. Investors, operators and green investment funds are doing more than just meeting regulatory and environmental standards. It was encouraging to hear about significant investment in extensive community engagement, with a strong focus on the ‘S’ of ESG, alongside corporate governance and compliance with EED and CSRD obligations. From site selection to design and operation, these facilities are not only planning to be AI-ready but are committed to exceeding compliance and sustainability targets from day one. It is clear that the data center industry is listening to its vast range of stakeholders and is addressing the crucial need of cohabitating as welcome guests in their communities.
How Salute is solving the AI infrastructure challenge
- AI operational readiness: Following the acquisition of Advanced Data Centre Consulting Group (ADCC), Salute is the first to market with Direct-to-Chip Facility Management and Operations services leveraging industry best practices for AI/HPC environments. This strategic move launched the industry’s first AI operations offering – addressing the skills gap, a library of best in class Direct to Chip Liquid operating procedures, and operational model specifically designed for AI infrastructure. This autumn (2025), Salute will debut its AI Training Academy, offering industry leading training for our Facility Management and Operations customers leveraging best practices, and hands on lab-based certifications designed for high density The AI101, 102, and 103 tracks will provide structured pathways to build and operate optimized, future-ready facilities.
- From financial investment to execution: On the development and investment front, Salute’s advisory services in EMEA focus on bridging the gap between development, investment opportunity, and execution. As Stephen Lorimer, our VP of Professional Services for EMEA, noted, “Our advisory services are built to answer a common industry challenge, namely, how to turn capital and strategic investments into a viable project plan.” The Salute team has developed specialist expertise in helping investors transform their capital deployment strategies for AI-ready infrastructure.
- From compliance to leadership: Salute is supporting customers to align their ESG commitments globally and their EED and CSRD commitments within EMEA. With increasing scrutiny on environmental and social responsibility, our advisory teams support investors and operators from initial concept and vision through to operation. We support our customers with excellence in reporting, embedding KPIs and sustainability goals, governance, and stakeholder alignment. By integrating ESG strategies into every layer of planning and delivery, we ensure facilities are not just AI-ready, but future-proofed for regulatory resilience and community integration.
Salute is your strategic partner for AI-ready infrastructure delivery
Through our integrated approach is helping clients:
- Bridge investor capital with AI-optimized operational strategies
- Adapt traditional data center models to meet AI infrastructure requirements
- Bring customers and operators together through strategic partnerships
- Connect operators with suitable land opportunities through comprehensive site advisory
- Provide end-to-end guidance from initial planning through to operational deployment
What’s Next: From insight to action
“We came away from Datacloud with a clearer picture of where the industry is collectively heading, not just in terms of technology, but in how data center operators and investors are approaching transformation as a whole,” says Mark Reynolds, Chief Growth Officer at Salute. “The conversations around AI, workforce readiness, and infrastructure models revealed just how closely linked these challenges have become, and how much success now depends on solving them in tandem rather than in isolation.”
Ready to transform your data center operations to get ready for AI and machine learning workloads?
Connect with us today via our dedicated contact form to explore how our advise, design, build, operate, and refresh services can advance your organization’s journey toward AI-readiness.