September 2025 | ILP Research Survey

2025 MIT Data Center Day Conference Summary


Bits, Brains, and Buildings: Designing the Next-Generation Data Center 

MIT Data Center Day brought together faculty, researchers, and industry leaders to examine the technical, economic, and sustainability challenges shaping next-generation compute infrastructure. The discussions focused on translating cutting-edge research into practical strategies for AI workloads, energy integration, and resilient data center design.

Key Takeaways from the conference:

  • AI-driven workloads are redefining data center architecture, power density, and cooling requirements.

  • Energy availability, grid integration, and sustainability are now central design constraints—not afterthoughts.

  • Cross-disciplinary collaboration between academia, industry, and utilities is critical to scaling next-generation infrastructure.

  • Innovative approaches to efficiency, flexibility, and resilience will determine long-term competitiveness and environmental impact.


View the conference agenda here.

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