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SoftBank Group (TYO: 9984) has announced plans to invest up to €75 billion ($87.5 billion) in France to develop and operate 5 gigawatts (GW) of artificial intelligence data center capacity, marking one of the largest AI infrastructure investments ever made in Europe.
The announcement was unveiled as part of French President Emmanuel Macron’s Choose France initiative, a program designed to attract major international investments and strengthen the country’s position as a leading technology hub. As part of the project, SoftBank will initially commit €45 billion to build 3.1 GW of AI-focused data center capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.
The first phase of development will focus on strategic locations including Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. Additional sites across France are expected to be added as demand for artificial intelligence computing power, cloud infrastructure, and high-performance computing continues to grow rapidly.
According to SoftBank, the new AI data centers will provide critical computing resources for AI companies, cloud service providers, enterprises, research institutions, and technology innovators seeking advanced processing capabilities. The investment is expected to strengthen France’s role in the global AI ecosystem while helping meet the increasing demand for large-scale AI workloads.
In addition to expanding data center capacity, SoftBank has entered into a partnership with Schneider Electric to establish an industrial production cluster at the Port of Dunkirk. The facility will focus on manufacturing essential data center components and power modules, supporting the development of a more resilient European AI infrastructure supply chain.
The project is also expected to deliver significant economic benefits, including the creation of thousands of highly skilled jobs in engineering, technology, construction, and operations. SoftBank said it plans to collaborate with French universities, research centers, and engineering schools to promote innovation, research and development, and workforce training.
As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates worldwide, SoftBank’s massive investment underscores France’s growing importance in the AI industry and highlights Europe’s efforts to expand its digital infrastructure and compete in the global AI race heading into 2026 and beyond.
