Northern Data Group and Gcore announce strategic partnership to transform AI deployment and Inferencing

Northern Data Group and Gcore announce strategic partnership to transform AI deployment and Inferencing
 

• Partnership delivers full-stack AI platform – from foundational hardware to inference endpoints
• Proprietary Intelligence Delivery Network (IDN) creates low latency architecture that will unlock further access to the USD 169 billion AI inferencing market opportunity
• Gcore’s Everywhere Inference platform provides GPU-as-a-service software layer, enabling new enterprise and model developer customer acquisition opportunities
• Northern Data has secured an option to acquire a majority of the outstanding capital stock of Gcore at a predetermined valuation

Frankfurt/Main and Luxembourg – 02 April 2025 – Northern Data AG (ETR: NB2) announced today that it has signed a commercial partnership agreement with Gcore, the global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider to large enterprise clients with more than 500 employees worldwide. Gcore’s customers include Wargaming, Avast, Sandbox Interactive, NHN Cloud and Photon. The commercial partnership will position Northern Data Group and Gcore as the leading provider of combined AI as a Service and AI delivery and networking technologies to enterprise clients and model developers.

The partnership establishes the Intelligence Delivery Network (“IDN”), a cutting-edge distributed global network that boasts 180 points of presence, 200+ Tbps of network capacity and 14,000+ peering partners combined with Northern Data’s leading position as one of Europe’s largest GPU infrastructure providers. The IDN is designed to enable the low-latency and secure delivery of AI workloads at the edge, a critical driver for the wider adoption of AI inferencing applications. The AI inferencing market is expected to grow to USD 169 billion by 2032, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

The IDN will be powered by Northern Data’s existing state-of-the-art infrastructure and Gcore’s Everywhere Inference software and networking architecture. Through the combined infrastructure and software stack, customers will be enabled by a powerful vertically integrated toolkit of AI solutions, including Managed Kubernetes and an AI model library. The technology supports the deployment of both open-source and custom-built AI models.

Northern Data and Gcore’s combined offering will be delivered with just a few clicks through an on-demand and simple-to-deploy architecture, offering clients real-time access to this full-stack solution and allowing Northern Data and Gcore to fully maximize the utilization of its infrastructure. Additionally, this commercial and technology partnership will deepen each company’s access to a large and diversified customer base that seek to deploy AI solutions globally, retain enterprise grade security and data protection and sovereignty, and optimize infrastructure resourcing.

Northern Data Group has taken two seats on the Board of Directors effective immediately and secured an option to acquire a majority of the outstanding capital stock of Gcore at a predefined valuation. Gcore generated in excess of USD 80 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The option exercise is subject to the successful completion of customary due diligence by Northern Data.

Aroosh Thillainathan, Founder and CEO, Northern Data Group, commented:

“We are combining Northern Data’s heritage of HPC and Data Center infrastructure expertise, with Gcore’s software innovation and engineering expertise, allowing us to accelerate our vision of delivering software-enabled AI infrastructure across a globally distributed compute network. This is an inflection point where the use of AI solutions is evolving rapidly, and we believe that this partnership will form a key part of the next phase of AI adoption.”

Andre Reitenbach, CEO, Gcore, commented:

“Partnering with Northern Data will provide Gcore and our enterprise customers access to one of the largest liquid-cooled GPU clusters and significant data center capacity worldwide. This collaboration supports Gcore’s mission to connect the world to AI anywhere and anytime with low latency, leveraging cutting-edge infrastructure to power the next generation of AI-driven applications.”

About Northern Data Group:

Northern Data Group is a leading provider of AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) solutions, leveraging high-density, liquid-cooled, GPU-based technology to empower the world’s most innovative organizations. Together with our partners, we are passionate about the potential of HPC to drive not only technological advancements but also societal progress.

About Gcore

Gcore is a global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider. Founded in 2014, Gcore is headquartered in Luxembourg, with eight offices worldwide and a team of 500+ employees. Serving industries such as telco, financial services, media and entertainment, gaming and retail. Customers include Wargaming, Avast, Sandbox Interactive, NHN Cloud and Photon. Gcore manages its global IT infrastructure across six continents, with one of the best network performances in Europe, Africa, and LATAM due to the average response time of 30 ms worldwide. Gcore’s network consists of 180 points of presence worldwide in reliable Tier IV and Tier III data centers, with a total network capacity exceeding 200 Tbps.

Investor Relations:

Jose Cano
Vice President, Investor Relations
E-Mail: ir@northerndata.de

Disclaimer:

This IR release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current views, expectations, assumptions and information of the management, and are based on information currently available to the management. Forward-looking statements shall not be construed as a promise for the materialization of future results and developments and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those described in such statements due to, among other things, changes in the general economic and competitive environment, risks associated with capital markets, currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in international and national laws and regulations, in particular with respect to tax laws and regulations, affecting the Company, and other factors. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates assumes any obligations to update any forward-looking statements.