SOFTBANK AND MACRON ANNOUNCE AI INVESTMENT – 45 billion-euro deal to boost artificial intelligence sector in France
Japan’s SoftBank Group will invest 45 billion over the next five years in a push to build up artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, its CEO Masayoshi Son announced on Monday (June 1). The investment, described as the biggest of its kind so far in Europe, would be made in the northern Hauts-de-France region and deliver 3.1 GW of capacity.
Son said the investment could potentially rise to 75 billion, with an addition of 2 GW sites. He made the formal announcement after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, ahead of the annual Choose France business conference.
Macron has sought to leverage France’s fleet of 57 nuclear reactors to market the country as a hub for artificial intelligence and data centres, which require vast amounts of preferably clean energy to run their computing power. French engineering company Schneider Electric signed an agreement with Softbank, to be one of the project’s key partners and equip the sites with its modules.
Three identified sites – in Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchon – are expected to come into operation by 2031.
Macron said companies have pledged a total of €93 billion ($108 billion) worth of investments in France at this year’s Choose France summit, covering 71 projects and expected to create more than 15,600 jobs. Softbank’s €49 billion investment is part of the total sum, while other investments are in semiconductors, electrification, steel and health. France has been using the Choose France summit to court foreign investors since it was launched by Macron in 2018.
