The Vertiv Technology Fair brings together industry leaders to accelerate breakthroughs that meet the growing demands of AI.
AI workloads are breaking past 100 kilowatts (kW) per rack, pushing data centers to rethink power distribution, thermal management, and energy efficiency. With training clusters drawing tens of megawatts, yesterday’s infrastructure won’t cut it.
Vertiv’s annual Technology Fair (see Figure 1) brings together technologists and industry leaders to tackle these challenges head-on. From liquid cooling breakthroughs to high-density power solutions, this collaboration is shaping the next generation of AI-ready infrastructure—where performance meets precision. Past events have driven advancements in process efficiency, design, and product development, proving that the right partnerships don’t just keep up with AI—they help define its future.
Rise of a global innovation platform
Vertiv Tech Fair didn’t just happen. It evolved through trial, error and a relentless drive to improve. What started as an experiment, (awkwardly blending remote and in-person meetings), eventually grew into a global platform—gathering partners and even competitors under one roof to drive industry-wide innovation.
Long-time collaborators like Jana Subrahmanyam (see Figure 1) have seen it grow from an informal huddle at the cafeteria—into the global event that it is today. 
Figure 1. Jana Subrahmanyam, Senior Director of Engineering Management for Product Development/Engineering at the Vertiv Technology Fair 2024, leading the rapid-fire sessions.
Reflecting on the fair’s early days, Subrahmanyam shares:
"When I was leading the Pune Center, we wanted to create a platform to foster innovation. We started with a small event in the cafeteria, which was so successful that we expanded it to the Vertiv India level the following year, eventually leading to the first global tech fair in Columbus, Ohio."
Vertiv Tech Fair is drawing attendees from the infrastructure and silicon sectors. By 2024, it had established itself as a hub for technical collaboration, bringing together over 400 engineers, partners, and industry leaders to drive innovation and shape the industry’s future.
What began as a simple brainstorm has grown into a global movement. And the most exciting part? This is only the beginning.
Enhancing talents, advancing technology
The impact of the Vertiv Tech Fair isn’t just about the tech—it’s about the people. It challenges attendees, sparks real collaboration, and pushes both talent and technology forward (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Interns who participated at the Vertiv™ Technology Fair 2024 managed logistics, facilitated poster sessions, and coordinated open discussions with advanced technology partners.
As Subrahmanyam put it:
"Colleagues recognize innovation, which inspires more people to follow the innovation path. The biggest challenge for engineers is speaking out their ideas, and the event created an environment where they feel comfortable doing so."
That insight hits home for Utkarsh Charapale – he has been part of the team organizing these events remotely, but in 2024, he experienced attending in person. He mentioned that to him, it was a launchpad for exchanging ideas and advancing innovation:
"The main objective [of the Tech Fair] was to create an environment for collaboration and idea-sharing, and I really evolved through this process. Getting invited to the first Tech Fair was a catalyst for my inspiration to innovate, as collaborating with industry leaders and presenting my ideas pushed me to develop new and better solutions."
Utkarsh joined Vertiv’s Pune office after graduating, and, after three months, filed his first patent. We invited him to the first tech fair (which we then called the Innovation Summit), where he experienced being in a forum for sharing ideas, collaborating with industry leaders, and deeply discussing technical challenges. Over time, Utkarsh took on a more active role, helping shape the event itself (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Utkarsh Charapale, Senior Technical Analyst for Product Development/Engineering, presenting the tech scouting process during one of the panel discussions at the Vertiv™ Technology Fair 2024. Around 100 Tech Scouts report on emerging technologies and present new ideas in monthly meetings.
Strengthening collaboration for innovation
Since it started, the Vertiv Tech Fair has boosted collaboration and changed the way talents drive innovation within the company. By bringing together engineers from different expertise and regions, the event has created an environment where cross-functional ideation thrives—unlocking opportunities that wouldn’t be possible in isolated teams. Subrahmanyam pointed out some clear results, saying, “For the first time, I saw a significant increase in patent applications at the Vertiv Pune office.”
The Tech Fair wasn’t just an event for Utkarsh—it was a turning point. Before the fair, many engineers weren’t fully aware of the initiatives coming out of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) office. But when Utkarsh took the stage to share these initiatives, something clicked. Suddenly, he wasn’t just a name in an email; he became the go-to person for engineers across regions.
Now, they reach out to him regularly—whether it’s for guidance on a new project, brainstorming innovative strategies, or exploring academic partnerships. This isn’t just about collaboration; it’s about building bridges. By connecting engineers with the CTO’s vision, the Tech Fair has sparked a wave of innovation, helping teams tackle local challenges and seize new opportunities.
Subrahmanyam also remembered his experience when he was new to his current role based in Ohio. With the Tech Fair, he was able to connect with the global engineering network. The event allowed everyone to put faces to names, which wasn’t easy before. He recalled:
"The Vertiv Tech Fair brought together individuals with shared interests in engineering and innovation, allowing us to collaborate more effectively and accelerate progress. Meeting in person helped overcome language and cultural differences, enabling faster advancement."
Gearing up for the next breakthrough
Tech conventions aren’t just meetups—they’re a way to push technology forward while bringing the right people together to make it happen. The 2024 Tech Fair was a milestone, but with AI evolving at breakneck speed, the real focus is on what’s next.
Subrahmanyam sees the next AI conference tackling real-world technical challenges—getting experts in a room, rolling up sleeves, and working through practical solutions. Utkarsh expects a sharper focus at the next Tech Fair, highlighting the technologies that will move the industry forward and recognizing key contributors with awards like Engineer of the Year.
These events go beyond showcasing ideas. They connect experts, drive collaboration, and prepare the industry for the next wave of AI-driven transformation. Engineers don’t solve problems in a vacuum—progress happens when people and technology evolve together.
