Why everyone wants to be an Nvidia partner — from electronics firms to builders

"Joining the Nvidia Partner Network is a meaningful achievement that proves to the global market that LG Electronics' thermal management technology is the optimal solution for next-generation AI data center infrastructure."

Those were the words of LG Electronics ES Division President Lee Jae-sung on the company's recent entry into the Nvidia Partner Network (NPN). The move has drawn fresh attention to what it means to be an Nvidia partner — and why so many companies are racing to become one.

The strategy among partner companies is clear: secure the official Nvidia partner designation to gain an early foothold in the fast-growing AI data center ecosystem.

In South Korea, the push extends well beyond electronics firms. Cloud service providers such as Samsung SDS and LG CNS have earned Nvidia certification, as have construction companies Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) and GS Engineering & Construction, which build the data centers themselves.

LG Electronics was formally listed as a partner in the AI data center "Power and Cooling" category at the end of last month, according to industry sources.

The listing is expected to expand LG Electronics' access to global data center customers seeking high-efficiency cooling solutions. Analysts say it significantly raises the likelihood that LG Electronics' chillers and coolant distribution units (CDUs) will be considered from the earliest stages of next-generation AI data center planning and design.

The Nvidia Partner Network classifies companies by focus area — AI infrastructure, cloud, influencer, and seller/builder, among others. As Nvidia moves to set ecosystem standards not just for AI data center GPUs but also for servers, networking, cooling, power and construction, partner status has evolved from a simple supplier relationship into a gateway for entering the broader ecosystem.

Within the network, partners are ranked by revenue level and depth of collaboration with Nvidia. Entry-level Registered partners gain access to Nvidia's sales and technical training as well as product, sales and marketing tools. Companies that meet defined targets in training and revenue can advance to Preferred status. The top tier, Elite, is reserved for companies with the deepest partnership with Nvidia.

According to Nvidia's official website, 1,008 companies worldwide are registered as partners. They include CoreWeave, which leases and operates data centers powered by Nvidia GPUs, and Vertiv, a well-known provider of data center cooling solutions.

South Korea has 34 Nvidia partner companies. LG Electronics is joined by Samsung SDS, LG CNS and Naver Cloud, all of which are actively investing in AI data centers. Samsung SDS launched a GPU subscription service based on Nvidia's Blackwell architecture through its cloud platform SCP (Samsung Cloud Platform) in March. LG CNS announced last month that it would purchase 381.4 billion won ($285 million) worth of Nvidia GPUs and infrastructure equipment to build an AI factory.

One name on the list comes as a surprise: Coupang Inc. The e-commerce giant earned partner status on the strength of its DGX computing system capabilities. Coupang operates large-scale GPU infrastructure through its Coupang Intelligent Cloud (CIC) unit, and in March announced the launch of an AI factory combining CIC with Nvidia's DGX SuperPOD system.

Perhaps even more striking is the presence of construction companies. Hyundai E&C and GS Engineering & Construction are both listed as "Architecture, Engineering and Construction" partners — a sign that the AI data center race is reshaping how buildings themselves are designed and built.

A prime example is the high-performance AI data center that Hyundai E&C is building in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. The facility is optimized for servers based on Nvidia's Vera Rubin architecture and achieves power density 10 times higher than that of a conventional cloud data center.

Industry insiders are unanimous that earning Nvidia partner status is no easy feat. The process involves direct verification by Nvidia to confirm that its GPUs and AI platform run smoothly under a partner's technical capabilities.

That rigorous vetting is precisely why partner status can accelerate a company's entry into the AI data center ecosystem. Given Nvidia's dominant grip on the GPU market for AI data centers, partners' solutions tend to receive priority consideration. Nvidia also grants some partners additional recognition in specific areas — agentic AI, AI factories and physical AI — helping them differentiate their technical expertise in the market.

"Once you're listed as an Nvidia partner, you have an undeniable edge over non-certified competitors when bidding for AI data center projects," an industry official said. "Having a direct reference from Nvidia means you're seen as far more credible."