Thermal management system industry trends: technological innovation and market expansion
Introduction
In recent years, with the rapid development of global technology, especially in the fields of automobiles, electronic equipment, and data centers, thermal management technology has become the key to ensuring the stable operation of these equipment. This article will discuss the progress of thermal management system technology and market development trends by sorting out recent industry information, including strategic investments by international giants, research progress on new thermal management materials, and market expectations for data center thermal management technology.
International giants increase investment
Marelli expands strategic investment in China
according tothepaper.cnAccording to reports, Italian auto parts supplier Marelli plans to further strengthen its strategic layout in the Chinese market and increase strategic investment in the Chinese region. China is one of the world's largest automobile markets. For Marelli, strengthening investment in China will not only bring it closer to consumers, but also make use of China's technical resources, especially the rapid development of new energy vehicles, to promote the innovation and application of its thermal management system technology. This strategic investment will focus on thermal management solutions for new energy vehicles and smart vehicles, and is expected to further enhance Marelli's competitiveness in the global market.
Market growth forecast

The thermal management system market has broad prospects
according toFortune Business InsightsAccording to the latest report released, the thermal management systems market is forecast to continue growing and reach significant market size by 2034. This growth is mainly driven by factors such as increasing demand for data centers, the booming electric vehicle market, and increasing levels of industrial automation. The report points out that with the continuous advancement of technology, thermal management systems have not only improved in energy efficiency, but also performed well in terms of reliability and environmental protection, becoming indispensable technical support for many industries.
Technological Innovation Exploration
Chinese scholars have made progress in research on thermal management of magnetic field-tuned phase change materials
Chinese scholars have made important progress in research on dynamic thermal management of magnetic field-tuned phase change materials. This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).nsfc.gov.cnThe news was reported on January 29, 2026. By using external magnetic fields to precisely adjust material properties, this new phase-change material can more effectively cope with rapidly changing thermal loads, providing new thermal management solutions for future high-performance electronic devices. The breakthrough of this technology marks a big step towards a more intelligent direction in the field of thermal management.
Thermal Management Challenges in Data Centers

Development and application of data center thermal management technology
With the explosive growth of data volume, data centers are facing unprecedented energy consumption and heat dissipation challenges. according toElectronic Engineering AlbumIn a report on March 2, 2026, the "Data Center Thermal Management Technology and Market-2026 Edition" report analyzed the current status and future development direction of data center thermal management technology. The report mentioned that liquid cooling technology has received widespread attention due to its higher energy efficiency and stability, while two-phase cooling technology is regarded as the key to solving the heat dissipation problem of high-performance computing centers. As the technology matures, it is expected that liquid cooling and two-phase cooling solutions will gradually become mainstream in the market.
Outlook: Two-Phase Cold Plate Cooling Technology
according toIDTechExAccording to the forecast released on November 27, 2025, two-phase cold plate cooling technology is expected to experience explosive growth in 2026-2027. This technology combines the advantages of liquid and gas cooling to provide efficient and reliable heat dissipation performance, especially suitable for high-density computing environments and high-performance electronic equipment. As the requirements for energy efficiency continue to increase, the widespread application of two-phase cold plate cooling technology will help solve multiple problems in the current thermal management field.
📰 Reference source
- Marelli to boost strategic investments in China- thepaper.cn (May 11, 2026)
- Thermal management system market size and share [2034]- Fortune Business Insights (May 4, 2026)
- Chinese scholars have made progress in research on dynamic thermal management of magnetic field-tuned phase change materials- nsfc.gov.cn (January 29, 2026)
- "Data Center Thermal Management Technology and Market-2026 Edition"- Electronic Engineering Special (March 2, 2026)
- Two-Phase Cold Plate Cooling Will Take Off as Early as 2026-2027- IDTechEx (November 27, 2025)
❓ FAQ
Why does Marelli want to increase strategic investment in China?
Marelli's increased strategic investment in China is mainly to get closer to consumers in one of the world's largest automobile markets, and to use China's technical resources, especially the rapid development of new energy vehicles, to promote the innovation and application of its thermal management system technology and improve its competitiveness in the global market.
What size is the thermal management system market expected to reach by 2034?
According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the thermal management systems market is forecast to continue to grow and is expected to reach significant market size by 2034. Key driving factors include increased demand for data centers, development of the electric vehicle market, and increased industrial automation.
What progress have Chinese scholars made in the research of thermal management materials?
Chinese scholars have made important progress in the research of dynamic thermal management of magnetic field-tuned phase change materials. This material can more effectively cope with rapidly changing heat loads and provide new thermal management solutions for high-performance electronic equipment, marking the development of thermal management technology in an intelligent direction.
What is the biggest challenge facing data center thermal management today?
With the explosive growth of data volume, the main challenges facing data centers are unprecedented energy consumption and heat dissipation. Liquid cooling technology has received widespread attention due to its high energy efficiency and good stability, and two-phase cooling technology is regarded as the key to solving the heat dissipation problem of high-performance computing centers.
When and why will two-phase cold plate cooling technology experience explosive growth?
According to IDTechEx's forecast, two-phase cold plate cooling technology is expected to experience explosive growth in 2026-2027. This technology combines the advantages of liquid and gas cooling to provide efficient and reliable heat dissipation performance. It is especially suitable for high-density computing environments and high-performance electronic equipment, helping to solve many problems in the current thermal management field.