France strives to keep up in global data center race as opposition mounts

"The window of opportunity is open, but it requires swift and consistent execution." In a study published on Saturday, July 25, reviewed by Le Monde, the consulting firm Rexecode, known for its close ties to business circles, makes a clear argument: France should become a preferred destination for data centers. The study comes even as the installation of these new factories that fuel artificial intelligence is sparking numerous debates and local conflicts worldwide.

According to Anthony Morlet-Lavidalie, French director at Rexecode and author of the study, data centers will be for the 21st century digital economy "what energy infrastructure was for 20th-century industry: an essential foundation for competitiveness and economic sovereignty." France, he argues, can't afford to miss the boat if it wants to become "a major European hub for artificial intelligence and occupy a central place in the new global digital landscape." The government shares this view, and has been making record investment announcements in this direction, including €109 billion at the AI Action Summit in Paris in February 2025 and €93 billion at the Choose France summit in Versailles in early June.

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