SoftBank Group announced plans to develop and operate 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in France through an investment of up to €75 billion, marking what the company described as its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. The initiative was unveiled during the 2026 Choose France summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The first phase of the project includes an initial €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. Planned facilities will be located in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain.
According to SoftBank Group, the investment is intended to support growing demand for artificial intelligence computing infrastructure and strengthen France’s position as a European hub for AI development. The company said the facilities will provide high performance computing capacity for AI companies, cloud providers, enterprises, public institutions, and research organizations.
The project will be developed in collaboration with SB Energy and other strategic partners. SoftBank also announced a strategic industrial partnership with Schneider Electric to support the rollout of AI infrastructure across France.
As part of that partnership, SoftBank and Schneider Electric plan to establish a large scale industrial production cluster at the Port of Dunkirk. The cluster will include a SoftBank-operated facility manufacturing enclosures and a Schneider Electric-operated facility integrating data center power modules. The companies said the project will combine SoftBank’s robotics and automation capabilities with Schneider Electric’s industrial expertise and local supply chain network.
The investment is expected to create thousands of high skilled jobs across data center development, engineering, energy systems, robotics, operations, maintenance, and advanced manufacturing. SoftBank also plans to work with local universities, engineering schools, and training institutions to support research and workforce development focused on next generation AI infrastructure.
SoftBank said the initiative is designed to strengthen France’s AI infrastructure, support European technological sovereignty, and create a more localized and resilient supply chain for AI data center development across Europe.
KEY QUOTES:
“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 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.”
Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO, SoftBank Group
“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. 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. By partnering with leading French companies EDF on the Bouchain data center, and Schneider Electric for a robotized plant, SoftBank displays a long-term commitment to building the future of an industry-centric AI in France. We are proud to support an investment that creates jobs, strengthens our digital infrastructure and contributes to our goal of digital sovereignty.”
Roland Lescure, Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy, & Digital Sovereignty, France
“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. 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.”
Bernard Fontana, Chairman & CEO, EDF
“Dunkirk Urban Community and Port of Dunkirk Authority warmly welcome this major industrial project, which demonstrates Dunkirk’s attractiveness and validates the substantial investments made to support reindustrialisation. The result of close collaboration between Port of Dunkirk Authority, Business France and local stakeholders, and made possible by the strong commitment of the State and RTE to abundant, decarbonised electricity, this project marks a significant milestone in Dunkirk’s strategy to become a leading hub for the digital economy. It comes alongside an ongoing competitive tender process for a state-of-the-art data centre at the Port of Dunkirk’s Western Harbour. The Hauts-de-France Region continues to position itself at the forefront of sustainable industrial development, combining competitiveness, innovation and environmental responsibility.”
Maurice Georges, CEO, Port of Dunkirk, and Patrice Vergriete, Chairman, Dunkirk Urban Council and Mayor of Dunkirk
“The challenge of AI is to deliver both speed and energy efficiency at scale, and Schneider Electric’s role is to enable and accelerate this transformation as the energy technology partner. By connecting energy and AI, we provide the electrical and digital backbone that makes high-performance, efficient and sustainable infrastructure possible. Our prefabricated power modules are a key lever to combine speed, scalability and energy optimization. Together with SoftBank, we are proud to contribute to a major investment strengthening France as a leading European hub for next-generation digital infrastructure.”
Olivier Blum, CEO, Schneider Electric
