2024-07-19 06:30:04
With 56 announcements worth 15 billion euros and no fewer than 10,000 jobs at stake, Choose France 2024 did even better than the 2023 edition. A success that demonstrates the attractiveness of France in many areas, including decarbonization, AI and green mobility.
We already told you about it in a previous article: this 7th edition of the Choose France summit was a success, since it generated record foreign investments.
New technologies and AI
France wants to assert itself as a leader in AI in the world. Since 2018, many big names have chosen France to establish or strengthen their AI laboratories: Alphabet, Cisco, Fujitsu, IBM, Intel, Meta, etc.
Seven new projects have just been announced, sometimes with very significant amounts, including:
- 4 billion from Microsoft, notably for “the expansion of its cloud and AI infrastructure in France with the expansion of its sites in Paris and Marseille which will provide the country with a capacity of up to 25,000 GPUs”;
- 1.2 billion for Amazon and 3,000 permanent jobs, which will enable “support the development of French capabilities in artificial intelligence and cloud computing”;
- 1 billion for Telehouse, the world leader in high-connectivity data centers, with the aim of “build and operate three new eco-responsible data centers in the southern and Île-de-France regions with the potential creation of 100 jobs”;
- 630 million euros for Equinix, which plans to continue the investments already announced at Choose France 2022 and open its 11th French data center in 2024.
Of the planned 15 billion, half will be devoted to data centers, the cloud, quantum computing and the development of AI, essential building blocks for the growth of industry 4.0.
Environment and decarbonization
France is one of the leaders in decarbonization. This year, eleven companies have decided to invest in France on related topics. The list includes operators, producers and energy suppliers (ACCIONA ENERGIA, EnBW, Nature Energy), as well as industrialists, including:
- IVECO – production of hydrogen electric buses;
- HOLCIM – multiple actions in favor of decarbonization (CO2 capture, recovery of construction waste, etc.);
- RIVA – electrification of steel recycling processes.
Furthermore, SOLVAY has announced that it intends to launch the first phase of a large-scale production unit for rare earth oxides for the production of permanent magnets from 2025, at its La Rochelle site.
Green mobility
France wants to integrate as many components of the green mobility value chain as possible, across all forms of transport: automotive, aeronautics, maritime and rail. In the maritime sector, the Danish DFDS plans to invest one billion euros in the electrification of its ferries.
Several projects also concern the production of batteries:
- ENCHEM – production of electrolytes in the port of Dunkirk;
- HUNAN CHANGYUAN LICO – production of cathode active materials;
- KL1 AG – EMME project, dedicated to the conversion of nickel and cobalt;
- NIDEC and SKELETON TECHNOLOGIES – production of battery storage systems, essential for the integration of renewable energy and vehicle charging.
Several aeronautical players also plan to invest in France in the aeronautical sector:
- LILIUM – discussions regarding the opening of production sites for fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft;
- LEONARDO – continuation of the study of the ATR EVO hybrid electric aircraft concept, which is scheduled to enter service in 2030.
Other areas
Investments have also been announced in various sectors, including nine in the health sector, in order to modernise our industry and ensure French production of medicines.
It is difficult to name all the investors as there are so many! If you want an overview, the press kit containing the complete list of the 56 projects is available on the Élysée website.
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