SoftBank Group has announced plans to invest €45 billion over the next five years to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, specifically in the Hauts-de-France region. This investment is touted as the largest of its kind in Europe and aims to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity. The formal announcement is set to take place at the Choose France business conference.
Schneider Electric will be a key partner in this initiative, providing necessary equipment for the sites, although financial details have not been disclosed. Three sites, including one in Dunkirk, are expected to be operational by 2031, with additional sites planned across France, potentially raising the total investment to €75 billion ($87 billion).
Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's founder, emphasized the importance of France's status as an energy producer and exporter for attracting such investments. The project also involves state-owned EDF, which will convert one of its former power plants into a data center for SoftBank.
This investment aligns with SoftBank's broader strategy, which includes over $30 billion invested in OpenAI for an 11% stake, reflecting a global trend of increasing spending on AI infrastructure. France has been actively courting foreign investors through the Choose France summit, initiated by President Emmanuel Macron in 2018