Japanese technology investment group SoftBank announced plans to develop and operate 5 GW of artificial intelligence data center capacity in ’, France, with an investment of €75 billion.
The project is part of a broader wave of investment in technology coming to ’, France. President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the country expects a foreign investment commitment of €93 billion at this year's FranceSelect ’ summit, including projects in artificial intelligence, data centers, semiconductors, critical minerals, transportation, steel and health.
This will include 45 billion Euro’ from Softbank’ for the first phase of its project in , Northern France, starting with ’ by 2031. This will offer 3.1 GW capacity in the Hauts-de-France region with planned sites in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel and Bouchain’.
Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, said: “Artificial intelligence is entering a new era, and the countries that underpin this transformation will shape the future of technology, industry, and society.”
FranceThanks to ’'s industrial capabilities, talent base and national ambition, “European added that ’ is uniquely positioned to be the leading AI infrastructure hub.
The facilities are intended to support the growing demand for artificial intelligence by expanding access to high-performance computing capacity in ’, France.
According to SoftBank’, data centers will serve artificial intelligence companies, cloud providers, businesses, government agencies and research organizations. The company said the project builds on ’'s existing advantages, including power grid, existing industrial land, engineering expertise and support for artificial intelligence development.
French Industry and Energy Minister Roland Lescure said SoftBank’'s decision to invest in France’ was the group's first major AI infrastructure project in Europe’, reflecting the country's ambition to become a leading destination in the AI value chain.
“This reflects the important assets of our country: EuropeA strong digital and industrial ecosystem with quick access to ’'s most reliable electricity grid, a skilled workforce, and a government that works in concert with local authorities and stakeholders to accelerate procedures for strategic projects.
Lescure added that the investment creates “ employment, strengthens our digital infrastructure and contributes to our goal of digital sovereignty.
According to SoftBank’, the investment is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs in data center development, engineering, energy systems, robotics, operations, maintenance and advanced manufacturing.
The company also said it plans to support research and development through partnerships with local universities, engineering schools and educational institutions that focus on the skills needed for future AI infrastructure.
SoftBank is partnering with French energy company EDF on the Bouchain data center project for the project and Schneider Electric to develop an industrial center at the Dunkirk Port ’. The facility will include a SoftBank facility that produces data center enclosures and a Schneider Electric facility that assembles power modules used in data centers.
The companies said the project will help strengthen local supply chains for artificial intelligence infrastructure and support Dunkirk’'s goal of becoming a hub for advanced manufacturing and robotics.
