Amazon Web Services (AWS) is set to deploy and scale 3M’s Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) platform within its data centre infrastructure under an expanded strategic partnership.
The companies will direct investment and joint development towards optical connectivity systems designed to underpin data centres running AI, also referred to as super intelligence (SI).
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3M expects to provide around $0.5bn to the US economy through its optical connectivity business.
The funding aims to speed up development in optical networking and fibre termination, scale up commercial delivery, and drive adoption across data centres.
3M transportation and electronics business group president Wendy Bauer said: “AWS’s adoption of 3M’s EBO platform demonstrates the potential of our optical connectivity technology to meet the performance demands of next-generation data centre infrastructure.
“By combining AWS’s infrastructure expertise and scale with 3M’s innovation and materials science capabilities, we can accelerate EBO deployment, advance our transformation and strengthen US innovation and investment.”
The project and linked funding are anticipated to sustain over 500 direct and indirect US jobs, including over 100 positions created across Texas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota through 2027.
These roles will support customer co-innovation, technical development, and supply chain growth across 3M’s optical networking portfolio.
Amazon supply chain and procurement vice-president Jens Gruenkemeir said: “Our work with 3M reinforces our commitment to supporting good jobs here in the US.
“Beyond powering the services people use every day, from online banking and hospital data records to streaming entertainment and retail purchases, our data centre investments are unlocking economic opportunities in the communities where we invest and across the supply chain, including the hundreds of jobs being supported by 3M as a result of its collaboration with Amazon.”
The venture builds upon 3M’s decision earlier this year to double manufacturing capacity at its Menomonie, Wisconsin site.
The expansion is also forecast to strengthen domestic manufacturing partners scaling equipment and production across the supply chain.
Last month, Qualcomm Technologies and Amazon entered into a multi-generation partnership to design customised silicon and optical connectivity solutions for large-scale AI data centres.
