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DCN Paris >> Agenda

Agenda

08:00 - 09:00

EXPO AREA

Registration & Breakfast

09:00 - 09:10

HALL 1

Opening Remarks

Mathilde Allemand
Market Development Manager at Data Center Nation
Matt Welch
Head of Conference Production at Data Center Nation

9:10 - 9:50

HALL 1

A French data center revolution: Can France become Europe’s AI powerhouse?

France is marching confidently onto the global AI stage, from hosting the international AI Action Summit, to attracting major investments at the Choose France Summit. With billions in funding, abundant nuclear energy, and strong government backing, the country is primed for a new era of data center growth.
 
Paris is already a leading European data hub, but France aims to go further, not just catching up to its Neighbours in overall data center capacity but leaping ahead during this new AI era. This opening panel will explore the bold innovation, future-facing strategies, and decisive actions that will position France at the forefront of Europe’s digital future.

HALL 2

Looking beyond Paris: The emergence of Greater France in the AI gigafactories Scene

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, can France position its regions, not just Paris, at the heart of its digital transformation? This session explores how the rise of AI gigafactories is driving both energy innovation and economic revitalization in areas beyond the capital. From gigawatt-scale training demands to the strain on substations and rural grids, we’ll examine how AI infrastructure is reshaping energy policy, regional planning, and industrial strategy.
 
Join this opening panel to explore what this may mean for job creation, infrastructure investment, and national resilience. With a focus on regional hubs beyond traditional FLAP-D markets, we ask: Can AI bring about a sustainable economic rebirth for local France, and will the country be ready?

10:00 - 10:35

HALL 1

New players, new rules - How market entrants are transforming France’s data center ecosystem

France’s data centre market is rapidly expanding, powered by bold government incentives supporting renewable energy and AI infrastructure. Attracting global heavyweights and sparking a wave of innovation, the country is experiencing billions of euros in new investments, cutting-edge technologies, and large-scale upskilling initiatives. This panel explores how policy, sustainability, and innovation are converging to position France as a pivotal battleground for next-generation digital infrastructure in Europe.

HALL 2

How are the new ML & AI workloads changing DC design requirements?

As ML and AI workloads evolve and grow increasingly complex, data center design must adapt to meet their unique demands. This session will explore how these advanced workloads are driving innovation in both design and construction. Delegates will gain valuable insights into optimising data centers for AI/ML performance, efficiency, and scalability, along with strategies to future-proof facilities in this rapidly changing landscape. The discussion will also cover approaches to retrofitting existing data centers to accommodate these new requirements.

HALL 3

Keeping the pace - How France can stay ahead of data center backlash

Across Europe, data centers are increasingly under public scrutiny, often criticised for water consumption, energy use, land development, and even noise. Yet in France, with the exception of Marseille, local pushback has remained relatively limited. This session explores how France can maintain this favourable dynamic as development accelerates. From transparent sustainability efforts and emerging technologies to job creation and community engagement, this session will discuss proactive strategies to ensure data center growth continues with public support, not resistance.

10:35 - 11:00

Coffee Break

11:00 - 11:35

HALL 1

Rethinking data center architecture and infrastructure to anticipate and support the AI revolution

Join industry leaders for an in-depth discussion on the transformation of data centers in response to the high power demands of artificial intelligence workloads.
From extreme rack densification exceeding 100kW to new hybrid cooling architectures, our experts will analyze the technological and strategic imperatives for designing, deploying, and operating tomorrow’s IT racks and ‘AI’ facilities. Through experiences and perspectives, this panel will address critical challenges in density, power supply, cooling, flexibility, and energy efficiency, with innovative approaches to meet these challenges, from edge data centers to mega data centers.

HALL 2

From grid to chip, rethinking data center design for AI at scale

AI workloads are transforming data center infrastructure, pushing the limits of power, cooling, and design. This panel discusses how the entire ecosystem—from grid connection to chip-level delivery—must adapt to support high-density, energy-demanding AI environments. Experts will consider whether power availability and grid constraints are now the main bottlenecks for AI data centers and explore how renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen, and alternative architectures like HVDC can address these issues in France and Europe. The conversation will also cover cooling and white-space innovations needed for extreme rack densities, such as liquid cooling, OCP architectures, and AI-compatible power systems. Ultimately, the panel will tackle a key industry question: can existing facilities be retrofitted to support AI workloads, or are purpose-built data centers necessary, considering cost, speed to market, risk, and long-term ROI in a fast-changing AI landscape?

HALL 3

Modular construction momentum: Can they deliver on France's AI ambitions?

Billions of euros are pouring into France to support a nationwide AI data center build-out. At the heart of this transformation lies an urgent need for innovation in data center design and construction. One approach showing significant promise is the modular data center – a flexible, decentralized solution designed to meet ever-growing IT demands. By offering a portable and scalable alternative to traditional, often cumbersome facilities, modular data centers could reshape the industry. But can they truly deliver?
This session will explore how modular data centers can offer a more efficient and sustainable alternative, from selecting the right foundations to implementing cutting-edge cooling technologies. Panellists will also examine whether these adaptable systems can thrive in dense urban environments such as Paris, as well as in more remote regions – paving the way for a more connected and sustainable France.

11:45 - 12:20

HALL 1

The strategic triangle: Sovereignty, speed, sustainability

As France pushes forward with its digital ambitions, the race to build fast, sustainable, and sovereign infrastructure is intensifying. But what does the data center industry actually need in order to reconcile speed and scale with responsibility?
This session explores how new service models—from localized cloud offerings to modular data center construction—are redefining the ways in which operators can help France build secure, sustainable, and strategically sovereign infrastructure.
Join industry leaders as they present strategies for delivering low-carbon, high-speed, regulation-compliant facilities that can keep pace with Europe’s next wave of digital transformation—and discover how to succeed within the strategic triangle of sovereignty, speed, and sustainability.

HALL 2

Next-gen energy supply solutions for resilient, future-proof data centers

The end of the ARENH mechanism in 2025 signals a major shift for France’s electricity market, directly impacting energy prices and availability for data centers. With nearly 70% of its power from nuclear energy, France plans to expand through new reactors and innovative technologies SMRs, a country uniquely positioned to support reliable, low-carbon power. However, industrial and financial challenges remain, influencing how quickly these ambitions can be realized.
This session will examine how these developments affect data center energy strategy, balancing cost, reliability, and sustainability goals. Attendees will learn how data centers expect to navigate these changes, secure resilient power supply, and integrate renewables to meet both operational needs and carbon neutrality targets.

HALL 3

Breaking the bottlenecks - How can data centres strengthen their supply chain?

From geopolitical tensions to unpredictable tariffs and shifting customer demands, data center supply chains are under pressure like never before. In this high-stakes environment, volatility is the new normal, and resilience is the competitive edge.
This panel unpacks the risks facing today’s infrastructure pipeline and asks how the industry can future-proof critical supply lines. Can production be localized and key components safeguarded to ensure supply chain resilience? What does it take to build digital infrastructure without disruption? And how do we prevent today’s delays, from becoming tomorrow’s disruptions?

12:30- 13:05

HALL 1

How can we overcome increased energy and water use in the new world of AI and HPC?

In the current era, the rapid growth of AI and HPC presents significant challenges related to rising energy consumption and water usage. Addressing these challenges requires improving energy efficiency and enhancing water management within digital infrastructure, while simultaneously ensuring environmental sustainability and respecting the needs of local communities. Join this session to discover practical solutions, from innovative water management technologies and AI-powered energy optimization to policies that align technological progress with ecological and social responsibility.

HALL 2

Modular data centers: Speed, scalability, and sustainability for the AI era

 The AI revolution demands data centers that deploy in months, not years. Explore how modular, prefabricated solutions—factory-built, tested, and rapidly scalable—enable operators to meet surging demand, control costs, and achieve sustainability goals across Europe’s most dynamic markets.

HALL 3

How to build large-scale, sustainable campuses for AI and HPC

As AI proliferation accelerates across Europe, operators face a shared challenge: how to deliver infrastructure that can support rising density, manage increasing energy constraints, meet tightening regulatory expectations and integrate sustainability.
This session will explore how the data center ecosystem is adapting to enable large-scale, low-carbon and high-density campuses. The panel will examine the pressures shaping the next generation of infrastructure: cooling innovations, heat reuse commitments, municipal regulation, land and grid constraints, environmental performance, and the rapid shift towards AI and HPC workloads.
Bringing together key players from the industry, this conversation will highlight best practices, co-development of new standards, and how to build a more resilient, scalable, and sustainable foundation for AI.

13:05 - 14:00

Lunch

14:00 - 14:35

HALL 1

Quantum leap - Hosting tomorrow’s computers, today

While Quantum computing may still be in its infancy, early-stage systems are already being deployed in data centers and industrial sites across Europe. While hosting these machines requires unique infrastructure, such as liquid helium and nitrogen cooling, experts suggest that modern data centers often need only minor adaptations to accommodate them. This session will explore which nation leads the quantum race, how existing facilities in France and beyond can adapt to quantum demands, and whether planning for purpose-built quantum data centers need to start today in order to stay ahead tomorrow.

HALL 2

Ensuring waste heat is not a wasted opportunity

Data centers generate vast amounts of heat, but this energy doesn’t have to go to waste. By integrating free-cooling systems and innovative district heating solutions, operators can dramatically improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and create new revenue streams. This session explores how waste heat can be repurposed to provide heating for homes, support industrial processes, and fuel local businesses – transforming energy that would otherwise be lost into a valuable resource for both data centres and their local communities.

HALL 3

Small reactors, big reactions: How soon can SMRs strengthen France’s grid?

As 94% of France’s electricity is already low-carbon, France is well-placed to pioneer the next-generation of energy solutions for data centers – most notably, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). SMRs offer the promise of flexibility, faster deployment, and distributed clean power, yet key challenges persist through high upfront costs, complex regulation, public scrutiny, and questions around long-term waste management. At the same time, France’s extensive experience with large-scale nuclear power gives it a unique position to test, refine, and scale this emerging technology. This conversation will explore whether SMRs are a realistic near-term solution for France’s accelerating energy needs, or whether other technologies offer a more practical way forward. Join this session to examine the timelines, hurdles, and opportunities shaping the next era of French clean energy

14:45 - 15:20

HALL 1

Investing in the future of France - Navigating growth, regulation, and regional realities in 2026

This session takes a closer look at where data center investment is flowing in France, and what those trends reveal about the market’s direction. While national support is strong, local regulatory hurdles, permitting delays, and fragmented regional engagement remain significant challenges. While Paris is an attractive place to do business, is the industry over-relying on this city? What are the opportunities, and obstacles, in emerging hotspots across the country? This panel will explore how investors and developers can navigate regional bureaucracies, manage timelines, and build productive relationships with local authorities to unlock sustainable growth.

HALL 2

‘Le trio incontournable’ behind Europe’s most ambitious data centers

Developers shaping the next generation of data centers must answer three essential questions: Where in Europe should we build? If I choose to build in France, where exactly? And should we retrofit or build from scratch? These decisions drive how operators identify new locations, navigate local constraints, and unlock emerging opportunities.
 
Some developers are looking beyond France to neighbouring markets, where southern Europe is forecast to see data center demand jump by 110% by 2030 – outpacing the established FLAP-D hubs. Milan, Madrid, and Lisbon are rising as strategic gateways with competitive energy costs and strong investment momentum. Yet slow planning cycles, rising land prices, and regulatory complexity still test their appeal. Even so, France remains a compelling market. AI-driven workloads reduce the need to stay close to end users, and new hubs such as Marseille, Lille, and Lyon are offering strong alternatives to Paris – though constraints do persist.
 
Once the “where” is answered, the challenge shifts to “how.” With land prices climbing and sustainability now essential, retrofitting is gaining traction as a faster, more efficient path. New builds, however, offer the latest in data-center design. The decisions developers make around these three questions won’t just shape individual projects – they’ll shape the future of Europe’s digital backbone.

HALL 3

Innovation in motion: The iMasons view on the future of data centres

This session, led by Rudolf Gordon-Seymour, EMEA Managing Director, and Romain Tranchant, iMasons Innovation Chair, will present an iMasons perspective on industry-relevant innovation and the current field of possibilities shaping the data centre sector. It will highlight the key areas of innovation being monitored and explore how they may influence data centre design, operations, and commercial models. The session is designed to be interactive, with audience input captured throughout and reflected back in real time at the end, creating a shared view of priorities, interests, and emerging signals from the French market.

15:20 - 16:30

Networking Drinks Reception

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