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Report

AI-Driven Data Centers – The Patent Race Reshaping AI Infrastructure

Published Date: 03.05.2025

Summary

  • Data centers have evolved from infrastructure providers to become critical enablers, reflecting the changing landscape of generative AI.
  • The increasing need for computational resources and optimized AI workloads has led to greater competition for intellectual property protection.
  • There is a growing trend toward renewable energy sources, advanced cooling technologies, and environmentally friendly building practices.
  • In 2022, the global data center as a service market achieved a valuation of USD 71.92 billion, and it is anticipated to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.1% between 2023 and 2030.
  • Intel Corporation and the State Grid Corporation of China, among other leading organizations, hold many patent families, highlighting their extensive innovation and significant contributions to various AI-related data center technologies.
  • Intel’s substantial rise in patent applications throughout 2022 indicates a strategic plan to strengthen its intellectual property holdings and potentially pursue emerging market opportunities in the AI-centric data center sector.
  • Samsung began filing patents around 2022 and has shown increased activity in 2023 within the AI-driven data center market.
  • The State Grid Corporation of China emphasizes the importance of reducing power consumption. Their patent applications reflect this commitment to energy efficiency, which is consistent with their function as a power grid company.
  • Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications is focusing its resources on supporting edge computing devices.
  • Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications is pursuing patents for applying deep learning to resource allocation.
  • The State Grid Corporation of China has the oldest patent portfolio, suggesting a long-standing commitment to innovation and a strong foundation of intellectual property.
  • Several companies specializing in AI-driven data center technologies are currently involved in legal proceedings.
  • In 2021, Netlist initiated a lawsuit against Samsung for alleged patent infringement related to the production of memory chips for data center servers.