Call for Early-Stage Companies in Green Digital Infrastructure and Energy Technologies

Christine Kjær Jacobsen • June 25, 2025

Fredericia, Denmark — The Net Zero Innovation Hub, in collaboration with Danish Data Center Industry, Business Fredericia, and DTU, proudly announces the launch of a dedicated Start-Up Hub in Fredericia, Denmark, a new platform for early-stage companies shaping the future of sustainable digital infrastructure.

The global data center industry is expanding at unprecedented speed, fueled by rising demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital services, and high-performance computing. As digital infrastructure becomes a critical foundation for modern economies and societies, the need for climate-aligned innovation is accelerating.


As part of the establishment of the Net Zero Start-Up Hub, early-stage companies, entrepreneurs, and university spin outs are invited to apply for inclusion in this high-impact ecosystem. Projects may focus on:

  • Decarbonizing data centers and digital infrastructure
  • Enabling sector coupling across electricity, heating, mobility, and industry
  • Scaling storage and back-up solutions for renewable energy
  • Selected companies will gain access to tailored support, strategic partnerships, and opportunities to pilot and scale breakthrough technologies in one of Europe’s most ambitious energy and infrastructure regions.


“The rapidly evolving data center landscape opens doors for early-stage and agile companies to become critical enablers of the next generation of sustainable infrastructure. By developing bold, scalable solutions at the intersection of data, energy, and climate, new ventures can gain access to global markets and become strategic partners in the digital transition.”
Alberto Ravagni, CEO, Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers


“This is a unique opportunity to bring innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability together. The Danish data center industry is ready to support the next generation of climate tech pioneers to support the growing data center ecosystem.”
Henrik Hansen, CEO, Danish Data Center Industry


Fredericia is proud to be home to this new innovation platform. Our city is already a frontrunner in green energy and infrastructure, and with the Net Zero Start-Up Hub, we’re strengthening our position as a launchpad for the next generation of sustainable technologies. We welcome entrepreneurs and innovators to join this new dynamic ecosystem.”

Kristian Bendix Drejer, Director, Business Fredericia 


Read more and access the application form here.


Benefits for Selected Start-Ups

Up to 10 companies will be selected to join the Net Zero Start-Up Hub starting in October 2025. Benefits include:

  • 6-month tailored incubation program, with mentoring, peer exchange, and expert support from leaders in the digital infrastructure and energy sectors,  following the principles of the successful DTU Skylab concept.
  • Pilot and demonstration opportunities in collaboration with industry partners, utilities, and the local ecosystem.
  • Visibility and credibility through inclusion in a high-profile European innovation hub backed by major global companies.
  • Access to workspace and facilities at the Net Zero Innovation Hub in Fredericia, Denmark.
  • A dedicated one-year Advisory Board assigned to each company, composed of senior technology and business leaders. This board will support product development, commercialization strategy, and investor readiness.


Additionally, at the Pitch Event on 24 September 2025 in Fredericia, three outstanding teams will receive direct financial awards:

  • 1st Prize: EUR 10,000
  • 2nd Prize: EUR 7,000
  • 3rd Prize: EUR 5,000


For more information please contact 

Henrik Hansen 

CEO, Danish Data Center Industry

Hh@datacenterindustrien.dk

+45 4013 4474


Christine Kjær Jacobsen

Communication & PR, Net Zero Innovation Hub

chja@netzerodatacenters.com

+45 2975 2932


About the Hub

The Net Zero Start-Up Hub is a flagship initiative of the Net Zero Innovation Hub for data centers  and the Danish Data Center Industry, headquartered in Fredericia, Denmark. It is developed in partnership with a unique group of global technology leaders and energy system pioneers — including Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, Vertiv, Danfoss, and Data4.

Situated in Denmark’s Triangle Region — a European hotspot for green energy and digital infrastructure — the Hub offers access to top-tier networks, advanced infrastructure, and one of Europe’s most ambitious decarbonization roadmaps.


This is your opportunity to shape the next generation of sustainable digital infrastructure.
Join the movement. Apply by August 31, 2025.


By Christine Kjær Jacobsen April 7, 2025
This comprehensive report outlines key activities, strategies, and accomplishments of the Net Zero Innovation Hub since its launch in September 2023 through February 2025.
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Net Zero Innovation Hub board of directors to host a session at the upcoming DCD London conference on 18th September. The session is taking place on 18th September from 15.00 GMT at the Business Design Center in London. During the session, attendees will find out about current and upcoming projects, how to get involved, and meet the team and the board behind the Innovation Hub. The session is open to all attendees of the conference. The Net Zero Innovation Hub is a pan-European initiative led by Danfoss, Data4, Microsoft, Google, Schneider Electric and Vertiv. The scale of innovation projects struggles to keep up with the scale, speed and complexity of data center projects. To master the challenges of the twin transition, towards Net Zero and AI, the data center industry needs new innovation models. This can be achieved through cooperation across the data center industry, with companies driving innovation, start-ups, academia, R&D institutions, industry associations, advocacy entities, public and private investors. The Hub is selecting innovations in the early commercialization phase, to evaluate and execute projects, solutions, and business models based on their “Net Zero Impact” and acceleration capability towards Net Zero. The focus of the first set of projects are within the area of Carbon-Free Energy and Heat Reuse, which we are excited to announce together with our partners. “We are looking forward to the session at DCD, meeting industry partners and developing the partnerships needed to bring innovation projects from First-of-a-Kind (FoaK) to beyond the critical mass”, says Alberto Ravagni, CEO of the Net Zero Innovation Hub. “Net Zero means for us having a zero or positive impact on planet, people and profit, starting with the environmental impact measured by the GHG emissions, and extending to the holistic LCA impact categories”, adds Ravagni. About the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers The Net Zero Innovation Hub is a pan-European initiative which seeks to address key sectoral challenges through concrete innovation projects and establishing stronger links between operators, suppliers, and governments. Workshop link: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/dcd-connect-live/connect-london/2024/dcdworkshop1/ Contact: Alberto Ravagni, CEO ar@netzerodatacenters.com Merima Dzanic, PR & Communications merima@netzerodatacenters.com +45 20 15 50 21
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By Merima Dzanic May 27, 2024
The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers hosted a workshop on data center heat reuse last week in Frankfurt. Gathering operators, vendors and research institutions, the day focused on data center design, standardization and impact of HPC chip temperature on data center heat reuse. The focus was to identify and qualify concrete projects to accelerate the adoption of data center heat reuse for various use cases across Europe. “The workshop was very constructive in connecting and aligning ecosystems and industry organizations such as EUDCA and Euroheat & Power. Only when we come together and pool our knowledge, can we make things happen much faster and at a much larger scale”, says Alberto Ravagni, CEO of the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers. “The last few months we have spent time gathering information and reaching out to partners. Now we are ready to move ahead with the first projects within the heat reuse domain. This is a very exciting time for the industry, and we are excited to announce the next steps very soon”, adds Ravagni. The newly established Innovation Hub is a neutral platform, where the data center industry and the surrounding ecosystems can come together and find solutions to common challenges. For more information, please contact: Merima Dzanic, PR & Communications, Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers merima@netzerodatacenters.com + 45 20 15 50 21
By Merima Dzanic April 17, 2024
The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers is pleased to announce the appointment of Alberto Ravagni as new CEO of the Innovation Hub. The consortium was launched in September 2023 by industry partners Data4, Danfoss, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric and Vertiv. Alberto Ravagni brings over 20 years of experience in the energy industry and is a clean energy architect and industry expert in clean energy, energy storage, and fuel cell technologies. Alberto has been the co-founder and Managing Director of the consultancy firm InfraPrime℠. “I am very pleased that Alberto Ravagni has agreed to become the new CEO of the Innovation Hub. Alberto has vast experience and in-depth knowledge of our industry, as well as the energy sector. He has shown great leadership in his previous positions, is very well-respected and brings a strong track record and international experience from positions earlier in his career,” says Dietmar Baro, Chairman of the Board. Alberto will be responsible for the daily management of the Innovation Hub, working closely with the founding members and project partners, to decarbonize the data center industry in Europe through innovation and cooperation. "The data center industry has a unique impact on our lives, extending far beyond its energy consumption and environmental footprint. It can lead and accelerate the journey towards achieving net-zero emissions and simultaneously enable circular, sustainable growth. I am looking forward to connecting the ecosystems, converging industry, research, innovation, finance, and public institutions, to collaborate on impactful projects with quantifiable outcomes. This effort relies on your support. Join us in shaping a sustainable tomorrow”, says Alberto Ravagni. Ravagni has previously contributed to the foundation and served as board member of the Joint Technology Initiative for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells of the European Commission, a public-private partnership which manages a €1 billion innovation program to drive the transition to zero carbon energy systems. Previously, he was the founder and CEO of SOLIDPower, a market leading fuel cells company, which commercialized fuel cells generators in megawatt scale for residential, SME, and data center clients. Ravagni was a member of the first board. Alberto Ravagni will start as CEO of the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers on 1 May 2024. About the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers The Net Zero Innovation Hub is an industry consortium launched in September 2023 by Data4, Danfoss, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric and Vertiv, to accelerate European data centers towards a net zero future. The consortium will function as a meeting place where key players can enter into collaborations and develop new innovative solutions that can be quickly implemented for the benefit of the green transition. For further information, please contact: Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers: Merima Dzanic, PR & Communications merima@netzerodatacenters.com // +45 20 15 50 21
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