Canadian investment firm Brookfield has announced plans to invest €20 billion (approximately $20.7 billion) in artificial intelligence projects in France by 2030, as reported by La Tribune Dimanche and confirmed by AFP.
A significant portion of this investment will be directed toward building AI-focused data centers, with around €15 billion earmarked for a large data center in Cambrai, located in northern France. This facility is expected to have a capacity of up to one gigawatt.
This announcement comes just ahead of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, where global tech leaders and heads of state will convene. In a related development, France and the United Arab Emirates recently unveiled an AI campus project that includes a substantial investment of up to €50 billion ($52 billion), with a similar focus on constructing a data center with a capacity of one gigawatt.
The surge in these mega investments can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, the recent launch of the Stargate Project aims to create multiple AI data centers in the United States with a staggering $500 billion investment.
Secondly, France’s energy landscape, which relies heavily on nuclear power (about 65%) and renewable sources (approximately 25%), makes it an appealing location for tech companies seeking to reduce their carbon footprint while ensuring adequate electricity supply for their data centers.
Additionally, Bpifrance, France’s public investment bank, plans to invest up to €10 billion ($10.3 billion) in the AI ecosystem, focusing on supporting AI startups and becoming a limited partner in venture capital firms specializing in AI. Meanwhile, Iliad, a telecom company founded by billionaire Xavier Niel, is committing €3 billion ($3.1 billion) toward AI investments.
Overall, these commitments suggest that France is poised to attract approximately €83 billion ($85 billion) in AI-related investments in the coming years.
