Japanese technology investment giant SoftBank Group will invest €75 billion to develop artificial intelligence data centres in France, marking the company's largest AI infrastructure project in Europe and one of the biggest foreign technology investments announced in the country.
The project will deliver 5 gigawatts (GW) of AI-focused data centre capacity and is expected to create thousands of high-skilled jobs across engineering, manufacturing, energy systems and digital infrastructure, the company announced on Monday during France's annual Choose France investment summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the investment forms part of €93 billion in foreign investment commitments secured at this year's summit, covering sectors including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, healthcare, transportation and critical minerals.
SoftBank said it will invest an initial €45 billion by 2031 in the first phase of the project, which will provide 3.1 GW of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region. Planned sites include Dunkirk's Loon-Plage area, Bosquel and Bouchain.
"AI is entering a new era, and the countries that build the infrastructure for this transformation will shape the future of technology, industry and society," SoftBank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son said in a statement.
Son said France is uniquely positioned to become a major AI infrastructure hub in Europe due to its industrial capabilities, engineering expertise and commitment to technological innovation.
The facilities will support growing demand for high-performance computing resources used by artificial intelligence companies, cloud service providers, businesses, public institutions and research organisations.
French Industry and Energy Minister Roland Lescure described the investment as SoftBank's first major AI infrastructure project in Europe and said it highlights France's attractiveness for large-scale technology projects.
"It reflects our country's substantial assets, including access to one of Europe's most reliable electricity grids, a strong industrial ecosystem and a highly skilled workforce," Lescure said.
According to SoftBank, the investment is expected to generate thousands of jobs in data centre development, operations, robotics, advanced manufacturing and energy infrastructure. The company also plans to support research and workforce training through partnerships with French universities and engineering schools.
As part of the project, SoftBank will partner with EDF on the Bouchain data centre development and work with Schneider Electric to establish an industrial hub at the Port of Dunkirk. The site will include manufacturing facilities producing equipment and power systems used in data centres.
The announcement comes as European countries increase investments in AI infrastructure to strengthen competitiveness and reduce dependence on technology resources concentrated in the United States and Asia.
Once completed, the planned 5 GW network is expected to become the largest AI data centre project in Europe, positioning France as a key player in the continent's expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem.
