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Published on 05.06.2026 
This will be the largest investment ever made in AI infrastructure in Europe.
On Monday, June 1, the Japanese group SoftBank announced a €45 billion investment in the Hauts-de-France region to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.
This will enable the deployment of 3 supercomputers with a combined computing power of 3 gigawatts.
And it is in the Hauts-de-France region that the group has chosen to establish its AI infrastructure, at the following sites:
🔎 Why did you choose the Hauts-de-France region for the development of your AI infrastructure?
A project that will expand access to high-performance, low-carbon computing capabilities in France and is expected to create 900 jobs.
©Ludovic Marin
The 3 gigawatts of power deployed by SoftBank in the Hauts-de-France region is equivalent to the annual residential electricity consumption of several million French households.
This scale immediately places this project among Europe’s most powerful computing infrastructure.
The Hauts-de-France region is becoming an essential European hub for AI infrastructure.
Contact our dedicated team and get started with our confidential, 100% free, and customized support.
We will get back to you as soon as possible and answer any questions you may have about your artificial intelligence development project in the Hauts-de-France region.
In addition to supercomputer projects, SoftBank Group is partnering with Schneider Electric to create a large-scale industrial facility dedicated to the manufacture of power modules for data centers.
This project, which is based in the port of Dunkirk, is expected to create 350 additional jobs.
This facility will combine SoftBank Group’s capabilities in robotics and automation with Schneider Electric’s industrial expertise and its local supply chain network.
This partnership will establish a complete industrial value chain in France, covering everything from equipment manufacturing to the operation of computing infrastructure.
It will contribute to the Hauts-de-France region’s goal of becoming a leading hub in the fields of robotics, advanced manufacturing, and industrial innovation.
These two projects, led by SoftBank, are expected to create 1,200 skilled jobs in the Hauts-de-France region, across a variety of fields:
support regional R&D through partnerships with universities, engineering schools, and training institutions in the Hauts-de-France region, focusing on the skills needed for the next generation of AI infrastructure.
For SoftBank, the choice of the Hauts-de-France region is based primarily on structural advantages:
This industrial and energy framework is supported by a vibrant digital ecosystem:
SoftBank’s setting-up is part of a broader trend toward digital reindustrialization, making the Hauts-de-France region a pioneer in hosting critical infrastructure for the AI economy.
🔎 Hauts-de-France: A dynamic environment for artificial intelligence
This project is the result of close coordination between government agencies, the Hauts-de-France Region, Business France, Nord France Invest, the Dunkirk Urban Community, the Grand Port Maritime de Dunkerque, the Somme Sud-Ouest Community of Municipalities, and the Porte du Hainaut Urban Community.
This collaboration has made it possible to meet the technical, land, energy, and regulatory requirements necessary to attract an investment of this scale within a competitive timeframe.
SoftBank’s arrival gives substance to the ambition set forth in 2025 by the Hauts-de-France region to build a European-scale “AI Valley.”
It clearly demonstrates that the region has what it takes to attract the key players who will shape the development of artificial intelligence over the coming decades, and that France can make its mark in this global competition not only through its talent and research, but also through its infrastructure.
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Tokyo, SoftBank Group Corp. is one of the world’s most influential technology and investment groups.
Its vision—to become the company that powers the world’s most essential technologies—has led to major investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure in over 30 countries.
The group leads a division dedicated to AI computing, which includes subsidiaries that specialize in designing semiconductors and high-performance computing platforms, such as Arm Holdings, Ampere Computing, and Graphcore, with the goal of accelerating the development of next-generation artificial intelligence.
The setting up of a supercomputing infrastructure in the Hauts-de-France region is a direct part of this global strategy.
Christelle
Frederik
Christelle and Frederik are your dedicated contacts for setting up your artificial intelligence business in the Hauts-de-France region.
Contact them today to get started on your personalized and confidential support plan!
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