China owns 80 per cent of the world's underwater data centre patents, giving it a decisive lead in critical technologies, according to a two-decade study of global patents in the field.

The findings point to a shift away from the West in the race to build future green computing infrastructure, as China moves from an early follower to the dominant force in subsea data technologies.S1S2

The study says China holds competitive edges in engineering-oriented technologies such as modular construction and in situ deployment, areas that are central to building facilities on the seabed.S1