The summit spotlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and green building practices in optimizing data center energy use, managing operational risks, and driving resource efficiency. With India poised to emerge as a global hub for digital infrastructure, this landmark event furthered IGBC’s commitment to scalable, eco-friendly growth in the sector.
The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Sharath Bache Gowda, Chairman, KEONICS and Hon’ble MLA, Government of Karnataka, and Guest of Honor Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission. Key addresses were delivered by Mr. Alok Bajpai, Managing Director India, NTT Global Data Centers; Mr. Hitesh Garg, India Managing Director, NXP Semiconductors; Dr. Milind V. Rane, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay; Mr. Syed Mohamed Beary, Chairman, Data Center Summit and Chairman & MD, Bearys Group; Mr. Chandrashekar HariHaran, Immediate Past Chairman, IGBC Bangalore Chapter; Dr. Anup Naik, Chairman, IGBC Bangalore Chapter and Co-Founder & CEO, Urban Frame; and Mr. M. Anand, Deputy Executive Director, CII-IGBC.
In his welcome address, Mr. M. Anand shared IGBC’s Green Data Center journey, highlighting India’s rapid growth and its roadmap toward achieving net zero goals by 2070.
Shri Sharath Bache Gowda said, “Karnataka is creating a dedicated 250–300 acre data centre park to power India’s data sovereignty—providing developers with bundled land and green energy through a genuine single-window clearance, so building world-class data centres is streamlined, strategic, and sustainable. Our vision is to make Karnataka a hub for data innovation, extending leadership beyond Bangalore, and supporting hyperscale and edge data centres across the state. With 80% of our grid powered by renewable energy, sustainability and efficiency will drive the future of India's digital infrastructure from Karnataka.”
Shri Sanjeev Kumar Gupta added, “Karnataka is not just leading India’s digital economy — we are shaping the future of global data infrastructure. With 61% of our power coming from renewables and a million-strong tech workforce, Karnataka offers the ideal foundation for sustainable, AI-driven data center growth.”
Mr. Syed Mohamed Beary, envisioning a green future for India’s Data Centers with IGBC’s Green Data Center Rating System, said, “India is fast emerging as the world’s most cost-effective and sustainable data center destination. With advances in energy efficiency, innovative cooling technologies, and strong policy support, we have the opportunity to make India the global benchmark for responsible digital infrastructure.”
Dr. Anup Naik spoke about Bengaluru’s evolving data center landscape, highlighting the city’s ability to bring together diverse stakeholders under one roof. He said, “India’s opportunity goes far beyond scale. We have the potential to set a global benchmark for sustainable digital infrastructure, proving that growth can be exponential yet ethical, and innovation both powerful and mindful.”
A major highlight was the IGBC Green Data Center Awards, which recognized industry leaders for exemplary practices in environmental responsibility, energy efficiency, and green innovation. Awards were presented to 10 organizations making significant contributions toward sustainable growth in India’s data center sector.
The day featured thought-provoking CXO panel discussions exploring AI’s transformative role in data infrastructure, policy and regulatory requirements, and strategies for building resilient, efficient data centers. Moderator Mr. Sumit Mukhija, CEO, DCI Data Centers, Australia, led discussions with panelists from Schneider Electric, JIO, PDG, NIXI, Microsoft, and Kyndryl Consult – Data Center Services, focusing on emerging trends in cooling technologies, green energy solutions, and pathways to achieving net zero operations.
Another panel on “Design, Build and Operation of AI Data Centers: From Challenge to Opportunity” included leaders from AurionPro, Datasamudra, Sify Technologies, L&T Construction, Amara Raja Electricals, and JLL India. The session addressed infrastructure bottlenecks, energy and sustainability challenges, policy gaps, operational risks, and workforce skill shortages, highlighting how these hurdles can be transformed into growth and innovation opportunities for India’s expanding data center ecosystem.
Technical sessions on Day 1 focused on emerging green power and cooling solutions, chaired by Mr. Vinod Kulkarni, NetApp. Presentations included the evolution of data centers in the AI era by Mr. Chirag Tyagi, Schneider Electric; Green Power Architectures by Kirloskar; and liquid cooling pressure and flow control innovations by Mr. Vishal Jadhav, Belimo. A session on wellness in the wired world, chaired by Mr. Rajiv Vasudevan, MD & CEO, Apollo AyurVAID, explored AI’s role in health and well-being.
The day concluded with a session on AI-powered sustainable data center design and operations, chaired by Mr. Rajkumar Kambar, Regional DC Manager, Intel Technologies. Speakers including Mr. Tapan Patil, Pancharatna Realty; Ar. Pankaj Wadhwa, Vastunidhi Architects; Mr. Tanveer Ahmed, Thermax Cooling; and Mr. U.N. Krishnaraj, LDCS India, discussed sustainable, scalable, AI-enabled design solutions and advanced cooling technologies for data centers.
