Lenovo’s new global innovation centre handles AI & HPC
Lenovo has announced the opening of its new Europe-based global innovation centre in Budapest, Hungary.
The centre will specialise in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) and work to operate with enhanced customer experience. It will have new capabilities and capacity to enable customers to test proof of concept solutions on the latest technology with unmatched lead times.
Additionally, the HPC solutions will be tested on site with world leading liquid cooling technology facilities.
AI technology ultimately represents the next era of growth and disruption and, moving forward, could cause the entire data centre sector to adapt and innovate in order to meet demand.
Using AI technology to create new data centre solutions
With innovation at its core, Lenovo's new facility will allow potential customers to pilot new data centre solutions that are built jointly with partners including Intel, AMD and NVIDIA in real-time before making a purchase.
Businesses are now facing pressure to maximise their investments into technology and so IT leaders are increasingly looking to test IT infrastructure before purchasing it. A survey undertaken in May 2023 found that just 13% of businesses were using AI within their operations, but greater investment was expected at the time with 35% planning to invest.
This new solution from Lenovo will facilitate this testing by offering customers access to advanced power and cooling infrastructure solutions. The innovation centre will provide increased capacity to host up to 50% more customer proof of concepts a year, as well as access to the latest technology to build these concepts within significantly reduced lead time. It will also offer onsite facilities for potential and existing customers to see live testing of and the manufacturing of their final solutions in-house.
Lenovo will also offer the first liquid cooling testing and demonstration facility within Europe.
Running operations from the Budapest factory with onsite inventory stock will allow Lenovo customers to access the most advanced power and cooling infrastructure solutions and latest generation technology within the supply chain.
This access ensures that workloads are tested on accurate representations of end purchased solutions, enabling customers to know with certainty the Lenovo solution installed will perform successfully for the intended workload.
Prioritising sustainability within the tech sector
Both virtual and now in person access to proof of concepts will allow customers to test workloads in data centre environments with full transparency, and the ability to adjust configurations that deliver better value.
Lenovo’s European customers will also benefit from knowing that the data centre infrastructure tested in the innovation centre comes from a secure and stable supply chain, as well as contributing to the European economy.
In addition, it is clear that customers are now prioritising sustainability more frequently throughout their buying journey. Lenovo has highlighted its commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2049/50 across all operations on site in its manufacturing facilities.
Manufacturing in the region will hopefully eliminate the need for customers to incur long-distance shipping charges and wait times, but shorter shipping distances also mean CO2 emissions are also reduced.
The European manufacturing facility itself was built completely with sustainability in mind. Since opening, it has increased the building heating isolation, completed installation of a lighting sensor system, and optimised air compressor waste heat utilisation.
The second phase of solar panel installation is now underway and will enable more operations to be run with a reduced impact on the environment in the future.
Szabolcs Zolyomi, Factory Site Leader at Lenovo, says: “Over 200 existing and prospective customers have visited our facilities in Budapest since opening just over a year ago, and now with the addition of the new Innovation Centre we look forward to welcoming many more from the testing phase to the manufacturing process.
“We engage with our customers on a human level and know they care about where their infrastructure comes from, how it’s made, and the impact each test, purchase, and shipment have on the environment. We are focused on enabling deeper collaboration, transparency and understanding between Lenovo and our customers, and now we can offer the benefits from our ongoing sustainability efforts on site too.”
******
For more insights into the world of AI - check out the latest edition of AI Magazine and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.
Other magazines that may be of interest - Technology Magazine | Cyber Magazine.
Please also check out our upcoming event - Net Zero LIVE on 6 and 7 March 2024.
******
BizClik is a global provider of B2B digital media platforms that cover Executive Communities for CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, Sustainability leaders, Procurement & Supply Chain leaders, Technology & AI leaders, Cyber leaders, FinTech & InsurTech leaders as well as covering industries such as Manufacturing, Mining, Energy, EV, Construction, Healthcare and Food.
BizClik – based in London, Dubai, and New York – offers services such as content creation, advertising & sponsorship solutions, webinars & events.
