Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group has announced plans to develop and operate 5 GW of artificial intelligence data centre capacity in France, with a total investment valued at €75 billion. The project, the company's largest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe, aims to position France as a leading hub for high-performance computing and compete with the United States and Asia.
The announcement came during the annual Choose France summit in Paris, where President Emmanuel Macron said the country expects €93 billion in foreign investment commitments this year. These pledges span artificial intelligence, data centres, semiconductors, critical minerals, transport, steel, and healthcare, reflecting a broader push to attract technology-driven capital.
Massive Capacity in Northern France
SoftBank's initial phase, worth €45 billion by 2031, will deliver 3.1 GW of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region. Sites are planned in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain. Once fully built, the 5 GW total would make it Europe's largest data centre project, according to the company.
Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, stated: "AI is entering a new era, and the countries that build the infrastructure for this transformation will shape the future of technology, industry and society." He added that France is "uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe" due to its industrial capabilities, talent base, and national ambition.
The facilities are designed to serve AI companies, cloud providers, businesses, public institutions, and research organisations. SoftBank said the project builds on France's advantages, including its electricity grid, available industrial land, engineering expertise, and support for AI development.
Job Creation and Industrial Partnerships
SoftBank expects the investment to create thousands of high-skilled jobs across data centre development, engineering, energy systems, robotics, operations, maintenance, and advanced manufacturing. The company also plans to support research and development through partnerships with local universities, engineering schools, and training institutions focused on skills for future AI infrastructure.
For the project, SoftBank is partnering with French energy company EDF on the Bouchain data centre and with Schneider Electric to develop an industrial hub at the Port of Dunkirk. The site will include a SoftBank facility producing data centre enclosures and a Schneider Electric plant assembling power modules used in data centres. The companies said this would strengthen local supply chains for AI infrastructure and support Dunkirk's ambitions to become a centre for advanced manufacturing and robotics.
Roland Lescure, France's Minister for Industry and Energy, said SoftBank's decision marks the group's first major AI infrastructure project in Europe. "It reflects our country's substantial assets: fast access to the most reliable electrical grid in Europe, a strong digital and industrial ecosystem with a skilled workforce, and a government that works in unison with local authorities and stakeholders to fast track procedures for strategic projects," he said. Lescure added that the investment "creates jobs, strengthens our digital infrastructure and contributes to our goal of digital sovereignty."
France has been actively courting technology investments, including partnerships with AI startups. For instance, Airbus and BMW have partnered with French AI startup Mistral for defence and safety systems, highlighting the country's growing role in the AI value chain.
The SoftBank project is part of a broader wave of foreign investment in France, which also includes commitments in semiconductors and critical minerals. The country's push for digital sovereignty and AI infrastructure aligns with European efforts to reduce reliance on non-European technology providers.
