Vertiv and IIT Bombay partner to develop cooling solutions for AI-driven data centers

Vertiv and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have entered into a collaboration to develop cooling methods for data centers handling AI workloads. The rise of AI across sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services has increased demand for computing facilities capable of handling high processing loads. This has created a need for efficient thermal management to support uninterrupted operations.

The agreement builds on Vertiv’s existing engagement with academic institutions across India to support skills development in data center operations. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare and Vertiv India Managing Director Subhasis Majumdar.

The project will use IIT Bombay’s Rotating Contacting Disk (RCD) system, which has lower air-side pressure drops than conventional precoolers. The system reduces fan power use and supports improved water efficiency. It also enables higher cycles of concentration and the use of recycled or seawater. The RCD technology has earlier been licensed for applications such as wastewater vaporization and carbon dioxide scrubbing.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. A. S. Prasad, Vice President - Product Management and Engineering, Vertiv, said, “By combining his IIT Bombay’s deep scientific insights with Vertiv’s global engineering expertise and our real-time learnings from thousands of operating data centers, this collaboration will help prepare the next generation to be better equipped with industry-relevant knowledge.”

Commenting on the partnership, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, said, “Our collaboration with Vertiv enables us to take research from labs to solutions with direct industrial relevance. As AI and high-performance computing systems evolve, there is a pressing need for approaches that are both technically robust and future ready.”