Insider Brief
- SoftBank Group plans to invest up to €75 billion to build 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in France, with an initial €45 billion phase targeting 3.1 gigawatts across sites in Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain by 2031.
- The project includes a partnership with Schneider Electric to establish a manufacturing cluster in Dunkirk, where SoftBank will produce data center enclosures and Schneider Electric will integrate power modules used in AI infrastructure, while EDF is partnering on the Bouchain data center site.
- SoftBank said the initiative will create thousands of jobs across data centers, engineering, energy systems, robotics and advanced manufacturing while supporting workforce development and AI infrastructure research through partnerships with universities and training institutions.
SoftBank Group plans to invest up to €75 billion to build 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in France, marking the company’s largest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe and one of the largest announced AI infrastructure projects on the continent.
According to Softbank, the first phase includes a €45 billion investment to develop 3.1 gigawatts of capacity by 2031 across data center sites in Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain in northern France. SoftBank said additional sites are planned as part of the broader 5-gigawatt buildout.
“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,” Softbank chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said in the announcement. “SoftBank is proud to make this major commitment to France. With its industrial capabilities, talent base and national ambition, France is uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe.”
Partnerships with EDF and Schneider Electric
As part of the effort, SoftBank said it is partnering with Schneider Electric to create a manufacturing cluster at the Port of Dunkirk. That project will include a SoftBank-operated facility producing data center enclosures and a Schneider Electric facility integrating power modules used in AI infrastructure. The goal is to combine SoftBank’s robotics and automation capabilities with Schneider Electric’s industrial expertise and established supply chain network to support the rapid deployment of AI data centers across France and Europe.
In a separate partnership, Softbank noted it is working with French energy company EDF,on the Bouchain data center.
“The project selected for the Bouchain site demonstrates France’s ability to host large-scale digital infrastructure, supported by competitive, sovereign and low-carbon electricity,” Bernard Fontana, chairman and CEO of EDF, said. “It reflects EDF’s commitment to selecting projects that combine industrial excellence, high environmental standards and long-term value creation for local communities, while giving a new purpose to its former industrial sites.”
Economic Impact
SoftBank projects the project will create thousands of jobs across data center operations, engineering, energy systems, robotics, maintenance and advanced manufacturing. The company also plans to work with universities and training institutions to support workforce development and research tied to AI infrastructure.
“SoftBank’s decision to invest massively in AI datacenters in France – a first for the group in Europe – is testament to President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition to position France as a leading destination all along the AI value chain,” noted Roland Lescure, France’s Minister of Economy, Finance, & Industrial, Energy, & Digital Sovereignty. “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.”
