Choose France Summit 2026: SoftBank Group and Sesterce to Develop 1GW AI Data Center in Bosquel, France

A joint venture majority-owned by SoftBank Group Corp. and formed with Sesterce announced that it has been selected to develop and operate a 1GW AI data center campus in Bosquel, France.The project marks a major step in expanding the infrastructure needed to support the next generation of artificial intelligence in France and across Europe. It forms a key part of SoftBank Group’s broader 5 GW commitment, announced as part of the 2026 Choose France summit, and reinforces France’s position as a leading European hub for AI infrastructure, high-performance computing and digital services.

Located in the Hauts-de-France region, Bosquel is strategically positioned near several of Europe’s most important economic and technology centers, including Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, London and Frankfurt. The location will help serve customers across major European markets with advanced AI workloads at low latencies.

The joint venture combines SoftBank Group’s global AI infrastructure platform with Sesterce’s data center capabilities. Together, the companies will develop a campus designed for the scale, sustainability, and performance required by Europe’s growing AI ecosystem. The campus will utilize advanced technologies to minimize environmental impact and water usage.

“AI will shape the next era of technology, industry and human progress, and that future will require a new gen of infrastructure,” said Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO, SoftBank Group Corp. “Bosquel is an important step in SoftBank’s commitment to helping build that foundation in France, bringing together large-scale compute capacity and strong local partnerships to support Europe’s AI ecosystem.”

“This partnership with SoftBank represents a defining moment for Sesterce and for the future of sovereign AI infrastructure in Europe. Together, we believe Bosquel has the potential to become a flagship AI Factory, combining energy, compute, and execution at the scale required by the next gen of AI,” said Youssef El Manssouri, CEO and co-founder, Sesterce, and Anthony Tchakerian, GM and co-founder, Sesterce.

“This AI factory in Le Bosquel is a major industrial investment with significant economic and social benefits for the local area, not only in terms of permanent jobs on site, but also through its support for research, innovation and knowledge,” said Rollon Mouchel-Blaisot, Préfet de la Somme. “Beyond its strong local impact, the entire Somme region will be able to benefit from the presence of a world-class HPC to help shape its future. Throughout the call for expressions of interest launched by the CC2SO, government services have been strongly mobilized to provide rigorous and independent expertise, with the aim of securing the best economic and environmental outcomes.”

The Bosquel campus plan, designed by architecture firm Patriarche, includes a community center serving as a meeting space for residents, local businesses, students, entrepreneurs and public stakeholders. The center will provide a venue for community engagement, events and ongoing dialogue around the project and the opportunities created by AI.

“From the beginning, our priority has been to ensure that this project creates long-term value both for our territory and for future gens. Bosquel represents a major opportunity for Hauts-de-France and for France’s digital future, but it must also be a project that benefits local residents, businesses, and public structures,” said Alain Desfosses, president, communauté de communes Somme Sud-Ouest. “We wanted this development to be fully integrated into the territory, carried out in dialogue with local stakeholders and accompanied by concrete initiatives supporting skills, innovation and local economic activity. The creation of a regional endowment fund and dedicated community spaces reflects this ambition.”