Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) plans to invest €20 billion in artificial-intelligence (AI) infrastructure in France.

BAM announced the financial comment with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Parison Monday.

The investment will focus on data centres and associated AI infrastructure. Up to €15 billion will be directed toward expanding the operations of Data4, a BAM portfolio company headquartered in Paris and one of Europe’s largest data-centre developers.

Data4 currently plans to build over 500 MW of data centre capacity across several regions in France, with the goal of tripling that figure by 2030. The additional €5 billion will be allocated to AI-related infrastructure, including data transfer, chip storage, and energy generation.

“The €20-billion investment by Brookfield notably through Data4 will allow France to remain in the race alongside major AI players,” said Macron. “This investment demonstrates France’s attractiveness. We have the knowledge, the talents, and the decarbonized energy needed to accelerate in AI. We must not slow down, the world is accelerating. This is a battle for independence.”

BAM is incorporated as a Canadian company but moved its head office to New York in late 2024 to enhance its standing on stock-market indices and share price. Sikander Rashid, head of Europe at BAM, said said France has the potential to play a pivotal role in the global advancement of AI.

“To achieve European [market] leadership, it is essential to invest proactively in the infrastructure that powers AI services, particularly in data and associated infrastructure,” he said. “Our €20-billion investment program represents a significant step toward this ambition, laying the foundation for France to compete on the global stage.”

BAM has been actively investing in France since 2015 and employs over 7,000 people across its operations in the country. Its diverse portfolio includes investments in AI and digital infrastructure, renewable energy, residential decarbonization, student and young professional housing, hospitality, and logistics.

The AI infrastructure investment comes after BAM opened a new office in Paris in 2024, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to the French market. BAM is one of the world’s largest investors in the AI value chain, with more than €150 billion invested in digital infrastructure, renewable power, and semiconductor manufacturing globally. Previous ventures include a landmark $30-billion partnership with Intel to develop a semiconductor foundry in Arizona and a record-breaking renewable energy supply deal with Microsoft.

Pictured: A Data4 data centre in Paris.

Photo: Data4