3M, Microsoft Form Partnership to Advance AI Data Center Infrastructure
3M and Microsoft announced a strategic partnership focused on AI data center infrastructure and enterprise transformation.
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Microsoft's Azure Cloud and AI Infrastructure will become the first announced hyperscale cloud provider to deploy 3M's Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) technology.
In addition, 3M will also use Microsoft's AI and digital platforms as part of its enterprise transformation across key business functions.
Together, the companies will combine Microsoft's digital and hyperscale infrastructure with 3M's materials science and precision manufacturing to accelerate AI adoption and strengthen the physical networks required for the growth of cloud and AI workloads.
"At Microsoft, we're redefining the foundation of cloud and AI infrastructure, combining our own innovations with advances from partners like 3M to build data centers that are faster to deploy, more resilient and ready for the scale of AI," said Cliff Henson, corporate vice president, Cloud Supply Chain, Microsoft. "3M's EBO solution will help unlock new levels of performance, reliability and efficiency to ensure customers can run their cloud and AI workloads on a trusted, sustainable and advanced environment."
As Microsoft continues to advance high-performance, efficient and sustainable infrastructure for enterprise and generative AI workloads, it will deploy 3M's proprietary EBO technology in Azure data centers.
By using an expanded beam optical interface instead of the direct contact required in traditional connectors, EBO technology is designed to make fiber connections faster to install, more tolerant of contamination and easier to maintain. The technology will help Microsoft reduce the need for frequent cleaning and inspection while supporting reliable optical performance in dense, high-volume deployment environments.
Microsoft's early use of EBO technology has shown the potential to reduce network deployment timelines in certain environments. The technology has also demonstrated strong signal performance in live data center conditions, where dust exposure and routine handling are inherent to installation and maintenance.
Microsoft and 3M intend to build on this partnership through continued technical collaboration, bench-to-bench engagement between engineering and commercial teams, and joint innovation opportunities across Microsoft's data center and device ecosystem, with a focus on areas where 3M's materials science, optical connectivity and manufacturing capabilities can help address evolving requirements for reliability, deployment speed, density and long-term scalability.
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