Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group plans to invest approximately €75 billion in developing artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, according to Bloomberg.
The project involves the construction of data centers with a total capacity of 5 GW. The first phase includes €45 billion in investments to establish a 3.1 GW AI computing cluster in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.
SoftBank’s commitments largely stem from the personal relationship between the company’s founder, Masayoshi Son, and French President Emmanuel Macron. They met during the president’s visit to Japan earlier this year. During their discussions, the investor received a request for €100 billion and “began to seriously consider the matter.”
“I was very impressed by how personally Emmanuel Macron is interested in ensuring France’s economic success, despite our investments being primarily focused in the US, as well as in Japan and Asia,” Son said in an interview with La Tribune.
SoftBank’s initial plans include building data centers in Dunkirk, Boscèle, and Bouchain. The company also plans to develop additional sites across France, “strengthening the country’s role as a leading European hub for next-generation digital infrastructure.”
European company Schneider Electric has expressed readiness to partner at the Dunkirk site to create an infrastructure center for AI and robotics manufacturing.
Macron is expected to officially announce the investments during the Choose France summit, an annual event aimed at enhancing France’s business appeal.
SoftBank is part of the Stargate initiative, which aims to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the US. In March, the withdrawal of project partners — OpenAI and Oracle — from plans to expand data centers in Texas significantly impacted the Japanese company’s stock prices.