Merck Deploys HPC Platform in Equinix Data Centre Facility

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has deployed a high-performance computing platform inside an Equinix AI-ready data centre to accelerate digital research across its life science, healthcare and electronics divisions. 

Built on Lenovo ThinkSystem servers and engineered for liquid cooling, the system is designed to support advanced modelling and AI workloads that demand sustained high-density compute.

Laura Matz, Chief Science and Technology Officer at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, says: “At Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, we believe that data and technology are the cornerstones of scientific progress. 

“With this high-performance computer, we are enhancing our computational capabilities and transforming how we conduct research and develop solutions that matter. This platform empowers our teams to leverage AI and advanced analytics more effectively, ultimately accelerating the pace of innovation across our sectors.”

HPC built for AI-scale research

The deployment reflects a growing shift towards high-density infrastructure designed specifically for AI and data-heavy scientific work. By hosting the platform in an Equinix International Business Exchange data centre, Merck gains access to a facility already configured for the heat and power requirements of liquid-cooled clusters.

Lenovo’s Neptune liquid cooling technology allows the HPC system to operate at sustained performance levels while lowering energy use compared with traditional air-cooled designs. This is increasingly essential as research workloads begin to mirror the demands of large-scale AI training and simulation environments.

The system supports a hybrid cloud model that combines on-premise compute with public cloud resources. This allows research teams to scale processing power during peak workloads while retaining control over sensitive datasets, which is critical for applications such as drug development and semiconductor research.

Unified platform for scientific modelling

The HPC environment is intended to consolidate the company’s research compute needs into one platform, linking multiple teams through shared infrastructure. 

Workloads include generative AI, molecular modelling, process optimisation in life science manufacturing and the development of new semiconductor materials.

The hybrid design provides flexibility for work that shifts between experimental modelling, data analysis and compute-heavy simulation. 

With Equinix providing low-latency connectivity to cloud platforms and partners, the system can integrate external datasets and collaborate with distributed research groups without compromising speed.

This approach helps Merck shorten development cycles and run more complex models than previously possible. It also allows the company to evaluate next-generation materials and biological processes using larger data inputs and deeper simulations.

Lenovo delivers liquid-cooled compute

Lenovo supplied and configured the ThinkSystem-based HPC, including the Neptune liquid cooling system that underpins the platform’s efficiency. The cooling design is suited to workloads that maintain high utilisation over long periods.

Andreas Thomasch, Director & Chief Technology Officer, Germany and Austria at Lenovo, says: “At Lenovo, we are committed to enabling the global adoption of innovative and sustainable technologies. 

“By designing and configuring this solution together, we've demonstrated that organisations can achieve exceptional performance without compromising on sustainability. 

“With Lenovo Neptune Liquid Cooling, even the most demanding workloads will run efficiently while helping Merck drive progress in both science and industry.”

Lenovo’s contribution ensures the platform can handle the rising thermal and power densities associated with AI-driven research. This is reinforced by Equinix’s existing liquid cooling footprint, with more than 100 sites now equipped to support similar deployments.

Digital foundation for data-intensive science

Equinix positions its facilities as the connective layer that enables hybrid and distributed AI platforms. Its German site provides the data centre infrastructure required to run high-density compute reliably while facilitating fast data movement between private systems, cloud services and research partners.

Harmeen Mehta, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Equinix, says: “This partnership embodies what the future of innovation looks like – where digital infrastructure, compute and science converge to solve humanity's biggest challenges. 

“At Equinix, we are proud to power that convergence. Together with Merck and Lenovo, we are proving that when technology scales responsibly, innovation doesn't just accelerate—it can transform industries and redefine what's possible.”

Equinix’s combination of liquid cooling, high-capacity connectivity and a scalable colocation model provides the operational base for Merck’s new HPC platform. The company can now run intensive AI and simulation workloads with consistent performance while keeping operations aligned with its ESG commitments.