Lex Coors

President, The European Data Centre Association (EUDCA)

Lex Coors is a prominent leader in sustainable data center infrastructure, recognized as the "spiritual father" of modular data center design since 1999. This pioneering approach, introduced during his tenure at Interxion and later Digital Realty, has set a standard for scalable, energy-efficient data centers, significantly influencing industry norms. Over his 30-year career, Lex has overseen the development of over 70 data centers, amounting to approximately 600,000 m² of gross space across Western Europe and Africa.

As President of the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA) and a key figure in the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, Lex advocates for carbon neutrality by 2030, emphasizing renewable energy, cooling innovations, and resource-efficient design. His work as Chief Data Center Technology and Engineering Officer at Digital Realty further underscores his commitment to environmental stewardship and technological advancement. Lex is also involved with the European Union’s SMR workgroup and Hydrogen Alliance, focusing on sustainable power solutions.

In addition to his industry contributions, Lex serves as a visiting professor at the University of East London, where he shares his insights on sustainability and energy efficiency in digital infrastructure. His influence extends to advisory roles in key organizations, including the iMasons Climate Accord, where he promotes the decarbonization of digital infrastructure on a global scale.

Lex’s commitment to sustainability and innovation has earned him numerous accolades besides 4 lifetime contribution to the industry awards, including the iMasons’ Technology Champion award, reflecting his long-standing dedication to a more resilient, environmentally responsible data center industry.

Most recently, Lex published We Are AI: Embracing Human-AI Synergy, which emphasizes the risks associated with unchecked advancements in AI systems. He argues that as AI becomes more sophisticated, the potential for unintended consequences and misalignment with human values increases. By advocating for a strategic leap into the seventh wave, Lex highlights the importance of mitigating these risks while leveraging AI's potential to enhance human capabilities.