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🇫🇷 France /Economy & Trade

AI: Japanese SoftBank announces record 75 billion euro investment in France

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Japanese tech giant SoftBank announced a record 75 billion euro investment in France focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure.
  • The investment includes 45 billion euros designated for data centers in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.
  • This announcement precedes the Choose France summit, aimed at attracting foreign investment, and positions France as a potential leader in AI.

Japanese investment firm SoftBank has announced a record-breaking 75 billion euro investment in France, specifically targeting artificial intelligence infrastructure. The announcement was made by SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, just ahead of the "Choose France" summit.

This will be the most important investment in Europe in AI-related infrastructure: 75 billion euros in total, including 45 billion by 2031, in Hauts-de-France, for the construction of data centers.

— Masayoshi SonDetailing the scope and regional focus of the investment.

This significant investment aims to bolster France's AI capabilities, with a substantial portion of 45 billion euros earmarked for the construction of data centers in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. This move is expected to significantly expand France's existing data center capacity, which stood at approximately 1.5 gigawatts by the end of 2025. The planned expansion includes an initial phase of 3 gigawatts, with a potential second phase reaching up to 5 gigawatts.

The announcement comes at a strategic moment, as France actively pursues its ambition to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. The "Choose France" summit, hosted at the Palace of Versailles, serves as a platform for President Emmanuel Macron to attract foreign investment and showcase the country's economic potential.

It's an important partnership, a big project, the biggest there has been in France in this sector.

— Olivier BlumDescribing the significance of the project with Schneider Electric.

Schneider Electric, a French industrial equipment and automation giant, is partnering with SoftBank on this colossal project. SoftBank's investment is described as the largest ever in Europe for AI-related infrastructure. The previous "Choose France" summit in May 2025 saw a record 20 billion euros in announced projects, highlighting a growing trend of foreign investment in the country.

Up until now, there was about 1.5 gigawatts installed at the end of 2025 in France at the data center level, and now, what is announced is that there will be a first phase of 3 gigawatts and then a second phase that could go up to 5.

— Olivier BlumExplaining the projected increase in data center capacity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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