Young Talents | German Datacenter Association

Apply now in the "Young Talents" category!

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Applications are open until August 18, 2025

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Read all the details about applying for the

German Datacenter Talents & Impact Awards

Young Talents – Innovative Research for the Future

The next generation of academics is shaping the future of the datacenter industry. In the "Young Talents" category, the German Datacenter Association honors outstanding academic theses that provide innovative impulses for digitization, cloud computing, and sustainable digital infrastructure. Eligible applicants include students and recent graduates from all disciplines whose work is practical, forward-looking, and relevant to the datacenter industry.

Relevant Topics in the “Young Talents” Category

Topics may include, but are not limited to: energy efficiency in datacenters, sustainable design, safety, architecture, and construction concepts, economic analyses, market research, or business models, novel applications of AI and quantum technologies.

Application Guidelines

Eligible theses must have been completed between August 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025.
Submissions can be made in German or English.

Theses may be submitted by: the authors themselves, the supervising professors (with the graduate’s consent), or responsible representatives from companies.

Winners will be selected by an independent jury.

Applying for the GDA Award is free of charge. Legal recourse is excluded.

Apply now in the "Young Talents" category

Prizes

Visibility for innovative strength and sustainability efforts within the industry, as well as access to a strong network, are at the heart of this award: winners present their projects to a distinguished audience and are given the opportunity to further develop their work in GDA workshops or deep-dive sessions.

In the Young Talents category, an additional prize of €2,500 is awarded – as seed funding for a professional future in the datacenter industry.

Take a look at last year’s projects and award winners

Evaluation Criteria

Degree of Innovation and Relevance to the Industry

How novel are the research question and the findings?
Does the work provide an original or significant contribution to the further development of the industry?
Could the work serve as a basis for new technologies, concepts, or business models?

Practical Relevance and Transferability of Results

Are the findings practically relevant for datacenter operators, planners, or technology providers?
Are there concrete applications or recommendations that can be derived from the work?
Is the work understandable and usable for industry stakeholders beyond academia?

Sustainability & Societal Impact

Is there a connection to current challenges such as climate protection, resource efficiency, or social responsibility?
Does the work contribute to developing sustainable or inclusive solutions for the datacenter industry?
Could the findings have a long-term positive impact on the industry?

Jury

The award winners are once again selected by an independent jury of experts headed by Prof. Dr. Peter Radgen, IER, University of Stuttgart, and Dr. Alexandra Thorer, Chief Development Officer, Business Critical Solutions (BCS)

Details about the jury members