Team siliconindia

• Vertiv and IIT Bombay team up to develop advanced cooling solutions for AI-driven data centers
• Partnership aims to skill students and strengthen India’s digital infrastructure
• Collaboration focuses on applying IIT Bombay’s RCD technology for energy-efficient cooling

Vertiv and IIT Bombay have formed a strategic partnership to develop next-generation cooling solutions for AI-powered data centers, a key need as India rapidly expands its digital capabilities. The collaboration builds on Vertiv’s ongoing work with educational institutions to help bridge the data center talent gap and support industry-ready engineering skills.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, and Subhasis Majumdar, Managing Director, Vertiv India, reaffirming their shared focus on supporting India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals.

Dr. A. S. Prasad, Vice President - Product Management and Engineering at Vertiv, said the partnership brings together IIT Bombay’s research strength and Vertiv’s global experience managing critical infrastructure across 130+ countries. He noted that working with Prof. M. V. Rane, a leading expert in thermal systems, will help prepare students to understand both theoretical concepts and real-world engineering challenges.

Prof. Kedare emphasized that the partnership will help move research “from labs to real-world solutions”. As AI workloads grow, he said, India needs cooling systems that are both energy-efficient and scalable, and the collaboration gives students direct exposure to these emerging needs.

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A major part of the initiative centers on IIT Bombay’s patented Rotating Contacting Disk (RCD) cooling technology. The RCD system lowers air-side pressure drops, cuts fan power and noise, and improves water efficiency. It also supports recycled water and seawater use and has already been licensed for applications such as wastewater vaporization and CO₂ scrubbing.

The partnership aims to create long-term impact by offering students hands-on projects, industry mentorship, and training aligned with future digital infrastructure demands. Vertiv will also explore additional opportunities in power, cooling, and infrastructure to strengthen the collaboration.