SoftBank helps drive record €93bn of foreign investments for ‘Choose France’

2026-06-01 · Source: Sifted · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, International Business & Trade, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

The annual "Choose France" summit, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, secured a record €93 billion in foreign investments, significantly surpassing the €87 billion raised in the previous eight editions combined. A substantial portion of this funding targets AI infrastructure projects. Japanese tech giant SoftBank committed an initial €45 billion for French AI data centers, planning a total investment of €75 billion to achieve 5GW capacity by 2031, making it Europe's largest data center project. Other major pledges include Canadian firm Brookfield's €10 billion for AI infrastructure, the AI Campus's expanded €7.5 billion investment to reach 3GW capacity, and Dutch neocloud Nebius's €8 billion for French AI data centers. France aims to be a prime destination for energy-intensive AI compute, leveraging its carbon-free electricity and skilled workforce.

Key takeaway

For investors evaluating European AI infrastructure opportunities, France's "Choose France" initiative demonstrates a strong, government-backed commitment to attracting significant capital. You should consider France's competitive advantages, such as its reliable, carbon-free electrical grid and streamlined project procedures, when planning large-scale data center deployments. This environment suggests reduced regulatory hurdles and a stable operational base for energy-intensive AI compute.

Key insights

France's "Choose France" summit attracted record foreign investment, primarily for AI infrastructure, positioning the country as a major AI hub.

Principles

• National initiatives attract large-scale foreign capital.
• AI infrastructure drives significant investment.
• Carbon-free electricity is a key asset for compute.

In practice

• Evaluate national energy grids for AI compute.
• Highlight skilled workforce in investment pitches.
• Streamline project approvals for strategic sectors.

Topics

• Foreign Direct Investment
• AI Infrastructure
• Data Centers
• SoftBank
• Choose France Summit
• French Economy

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Director of AI/ML, Executive, Investor, Policy Maker

Related on AIssential

• SoftBank says it will invest up to €75 billion to build French data centers — SoftBank is making a massive AI infrastructure bet in Europe, despite growing US opposition to data center expansion.
• Stegra bags €1.4B rescue funding package, OpenAI to move to first permanent London office, and your guide to next week's Tech.eu Summit London — European tech investment remains robust, with significant funding directed towards green tech, AI infrastructure, and deeptech.
• 🇫🇷 French Tech Wire: Building AI Startups For Factory Floors — French tech is navigating a complex landscape of quantum advancements, AI industrialization, and strategic market adjustments.
• India's Adani Group to Invest $100 Billion in AI Infrastructure — Strategic partnerships between tech giants and industrial conglomerates are crucial for scaling AI infrastructure.
• France’s AI Reality Check: Stanford HAI Report Reveals a Strong Contender—But Not a Global Leader — France is a strong AI adopter and talent hub, but lags in frontier model development and investment scale.
• The Biggest Bottlenecks For AI: Energy & Cooling — AI's rapid growth, fueled by massive infrastructure investment and declining input costs, presents a market opportunity far exceeding prior tech cycles.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Sifted.