NEWS
NTT DATA launches Munich AI Factory with NVIDIA and Dell to accelerate enterprise AI
NTT DATA has opened a production-grade AI Factory in Munich, targeting one of enterprise artificial intelligence’ s biggest obstacles: turning experimental pilots into commercially viable deployments without surrendering control of critical infrastructure.
Located inside NTT Global Data Centers’ Munich 2 facility, the operation allows organisations to test AI applications against real-world computing, security, governance and operational requirements before committing capital to deployment.
The initiative brings together NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, Spectrum-X Ethernet networking and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software with Dell Technologies’ AI-optimised servers, storage and infrastructure services. Unlike conventional demonstration laboratories, the Munich facility operates within a live data centre, enabling customers to evaluate performance, scalability and regulatory compliance under production conditions.
NTT DATA said enterprises could deploy their own applications and datasets, testing sovereignty and data-residency controls while assessing operational risks.
Initial demonstrations covered banking, manufacturing and healthcare, sectors facing mounting pressure to deploy AI without compromising sensitive information.
The launch reflects a broader shift in enterprise AI investment, where infrastructure ownership, governance and operational resilience increasingly determine whether projects advance beyond experimentation.
Graham Clarke, NTT DATA’ s Managing Director, Global Private & Sovereign AI, said organisations needed practical evidence before making substantial infrastructure commitments.
“ Every leader I speak to wants AI they own, control and trust,” Clarke said.
The facility also integrates NTT DATA’ s consulting, security, infrastructure and managed services capabilities, creating an environment for testing complete enterprise AI architectures.
For customers, the critical question is whether production-grade validation can reduce deployment risks, accelerate investment decisions and turn AI experimentation into measurable business returns.
ICOS and Spectra Logic expand secure data storage solutions across Italy
Italy’ s enterprise data storage market is attracting fresh international investment as organisations confront mounting pressure to secure rapidly expanding datasets, meet sovereignty requirements and protect critical infrastructure against cyber threats.
US storage specialist Spectra Logic has signed a distribution agreement with Italian technology distributor ICOS S. p. A., expanding access to its data management and storage portfolio across the country.
The partnership gives Bolzano-based ICOS responsibility for bringing Spectra Logic technologies to its established network of Italian channel partners.
The agreement targets enterprises struggling with the combined demands of AI-driven data growth, longterm information retention and increasingly complex cybersecurity requirements.
For Italian organisations, the challenge extends beyond storage capacity. Data sovereignty obligations, ransomware exposure and the economics of retaining vast datasets are forcing businesses to reconsider how information is protected and managed.
Spectra Logic aims to address these pressures through its storage technologies, while ICOS provides local distribution capabilities and technical expertise.
Founded in 1987, ICOS specialises in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity distribution, supporting partners developing enterprise technology solutions.
Federico Marini, Managing Director, ICOS, said the agreement would give Italian organisations access to technologies designed to protect and preserve data at scale.
Craig Bungay, Vice President of Sales, Spectra Logic, identified Italy as an important expansion market, citing ICOS’ established relationships and infrastructure expertise.
The partnership strengthens Spectra Logic’ s Italian channel presence as businesses increasingly prioritise resilient storage architectures capable of supporting AI workloads, regulatory compliance and long-term digital infrastructure requirements. •
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