The Interconnection Academy, founded by DE-CIX and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) Barcelona, and the Nomad Futurist Foundation are partnering to expand free access to specialised training in networking, data centers, and interconnection.
The collaboration will make industry-certified courses available to thousands of professionals and students globally, addressing a critical talent shortage as AI transforms digital infrastructure demands.
While the latest World Economic Forum’s figures show that topics like networks and security, AI and Big Data, and general technological literacy are set to become core skills for employees in a range of industries by 2030, and in late 2025 76% of IT companies worldwide were unable to fill vacancies for tech specialists, this will be further exacerbated by the expected retirement of around 25% of network engineers within the next five years. The partnership of the academies seeks to mitigate this growing skills gap in the tech industry.
In addition, the Interconnection Academy is launching new modules on networking and the interconnection ecosystem in January and April 2026, with further courses planned throughout the year.
Through this collaboration, the Interconnection Academy, an online educational platform designed to increase understanding of digital infrastructure topics and train tomorrow’s interconnection specialists, and the Nomad Futurist Foundation – a non-profit organization dedicated to demystifying digital infrastructure and inspiring the next generation of technology leaders – will enrich the offerings of their respective learning platforms by sharing selected content and training modules.
The partnership announcement coincides with a meeting of both organisations in Hawaii on 16 and 17 January, home of the Nomad Futurist Foundation, where Interconnection Academy founder and DE-CIX CEO Ivo Ivanov will speak at the annual PTC Beyond Masterclass 2026 educational forum.
Empowering the next wave of connectivity professionals
The Interconnection Academy, founded in 2021 by DE-CIX – the world’s leading Internet Exchange operator – in partnership with the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona, is expanding its offering in 2026, with new modules on networking and the interconnection ecosystem set to go online in January and April, and additional modules planned for later in the year.
Through collaboration with partners across the ecosystem, the Interconnection Academy enables professionals at every level to embed interconnection into their IT environments and thrive in the digital economy. The academy actively partners with industry experts, businesses, and organizations to co-create high-quality, accessible learning materials that reflect the evolving landscape of interconnection and peering. Together, these efforts are building a diverse and growing library of resources designed to equip the next wave of connectivity professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to lead.
The Nomad Futurist Academy, an initiative of the non-profit Nomad Futurist Foundation, is a global learning and awareness platform focused on illuminating the often-unseen world of digital infrastructure. Through education, storytelling, and community engagement, Nomad Futurist helps individuals understand how the digital world is built, why it matters, and where opportunity exists.
The Academy offers expert-led courses, resources, and conversations that connect technology with leadership, purpose, and real-world impact. As part of this collaboration, Nomad Futurist will share select modules with the Interconnection Academy, beginning with foundational content on data center infrastructure, helping learners connect technical knowledge with industry context and career pathways.
Educational offerings for the challenges of today and tomorrow
“With the advent of AI, we are facing the newest industrial revolution, in which we will need to further up-skill and re-skill workers for tomorrow’s industries,” comments Ivo Ivanov, Founder of the Interconnection Academy and CEO of DE-CIX.
Ivanov continues: “Here, education platforms like the Interconnection Academy and the Nomad Futurist Academy offer a valuable resource for people just starting out in the workforce as well as those needing to update their knowledge and skills for a changing world.”
Yolandi Cloete, Manager of the Global Interconnection Academy, agrees:
“Working with the Nomad Futurist Foundation enables us to expand access to high-quality educational offerings and co-create and share industry-relevant learning modules with a trusted partner. The two organizations are united by a shared passion for education and innovation in the digital infrastructure space.”
“Digital infrastructure touches every part of modern life, yet very few people truly understand how it works or the opportunities it creates,” stated Nabeel Mahmood, Co-Founder & CEO of the Nomad Futurist Foundation. “By partnering with the Interconnection Academy, we’re bridging that gap, making complex concepts approachable, and helping people see a future for themselves in this industry. Education is the on-ramp to inclusion, innovation, and long-term impact.”
