SoftBank has committed €45 billion ($52 billion) to build three large-scale AI data centers in northern France, marking one of the largest technology infrastructure investments ever announced in Europe. The project was unveiled as part of the annual Choose France summit, where companies collectively pledged €93 billion in new investments across the country.
The data center initiative will be developed in the Hauts-de-France region and is expected to deliver a combined capacity of 3.1 gigawatts by 2031. According to SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, the investment could ultimately expand to €75 billion as demand for AI computing infrastructure continues to grow.
The project represents the largest individual investment announced during this year’s summit and reflects SoftBank’s growing focus on global AI infrastructure. Son said the facilities are intended to help Europe close the gap with the United States and China in computing capacity, which has become a critical resource for training and operating advanced AI systems.
French President Emmanuel Macron has positioned AI infrastructure as a strategic priority, leveraging France’s extensive nuclear power network and growing electricity surplus to attract energy-intensive data center projects. France currently operates 57 nuclear reactors, giving it one of Europe’s largest sources of low-carbon electricity.
The broader investment package announced at the summit includes 71 projects that French officials estimate will create more than 15,600 jobs. Macron described the commitments as a record year for foreign investment and a sign that France is becoming a more attractive destination for global technology companies.
Europe’s AI Infrastructure Ambitions
The investment underscores growing concerns that Europe risks falling behind the United States and China in AI infrastructure development. Training and deploying advanced AI models requires vast amounts of computing power, and access to data centers has emerged as a strategic advantage for both governments and technology companies.
SoftBank is positioning itself as one of the largest investors in this infrastructure buildout. The company has already invested more than $30 billion in OpenAI and committed an additional $30 billion for future funding. It is also leading financing efforts for Stargate, the $500 billion initiative aimed at dramatically expanding AI data center capacity in the United States.
Beyond data centers, SoftBank is expanding its semiconductor strategy as well. The company recently invested more than $450 million into British AI chipmaker Graphcore following its acquisition of the startup in 2024, reinforcing its broader push to build the hardware and infrastructure needed for next-generation AI systems.
For France, attracting these facilities aligns with a broader effort to transform surplus electricity production into higher-value digital services. Macron’s government has increasingly marketed the country’s energy resources as a competitive advantage in the race to attract AI investment.
By combining large-scale investment with abundant nuclear energy resources, France hopes to establish itself as one of Europe’s leading AI infrastructure hubs. If completed as planned, SoftBank’s data centers would become some of the largest AI computing facilities on the continent and a significant part of Europe’s effort to expand domestic AI capacity.
