European cloud company evroc plans to boost Europe’s standing in artificial intelligence by building a 96 MW data centre in Mougins, France, tailor-made for AI workloads. Construction is expected to wrap up in 2025, and the facility’s capacity will expand in phases over time.
What sets an AI factory apart?
evroc terms what it’s building, an “AI factory,” with the difference from a ‘normal’ data centre found in some of the details. According to evroc, AI is integrated into every area of operations – from how the hardware is orchestrated to the tools developers will use. Systems will be optimised to handle large-scale AI tasks with the goal of boosting performance, efficiency, and speed.
Sustainability is also a focus. AI will help manage cooling, resource allocation, and heat reuse to reduce the environmental footprint. The goal is to create a hub that powers AI innovation and keep energy consumption as low as possible.
Why France?
The reasons for selecting Mougins as the site for the data centre include the thriving community of engineers, startups, and R&D teams at the nearby Sophia Antipolis tech hub, also known as the “French Silicon Valley”. The facility’s location makes it ideal to recruit suitably-qualified personnel and “foster AI innovation.”
Mattias Astrom, evroc’s founder and CEO, sees the move as more than just establishing facilities. “We see France as a central hub for AI research and innovation,” he said. “Our new data centre in Mougins represents both a important infrastructure investment and a commitment to local technology and talent. By building the European cloud, we’re opening new frontiers for Europe’s AI ecosystem.”
Big expansion plans
Mougins is the first part of larger plans. evroc is planning two 100+ MW data centre sites elsewhere in France, with plans to secure ground this year. The company envisages the collective sites forming a large-scale European cloud network. evroc will also expand its offices in Sophia Antipolis, building a specialised team that focuses on AI, cloud engineering, and data centre operations.
European sovereignty in the cloud
evroc’s ambitions aren’t just about technology; they’re also about control. In recent years, European companies have relied heavily on cloud services from US giants AWS, Microsoft, and Google, raising concerns about privacy, data sovereignty and security.
evroc wants to change that, with each facility complying with EU privacy laws. The goal is to give European businesses cloud infrastructure that’s built in Europe, for European customers. It’s part of a larger push to make Europe’s AI future self-determining.
The regulatory and geopolitical push
evroc’s move is a reflection of a broader shift in Europe, where policymakers and businesses are aware of the risks of over-reliance on non-European tech providers. Regulations as far back as the General Data Protection Regulation and newer data localisation requirements are driving demand for cloud solutions that are fully compliant with EU standards.
Geopolitical tensions have also added to the urgency of alternatives not necessarily based overseas. As countries tighten their grip on data and technology, Europe is determined to build a sovereign secure digital infrastructure. evroc is betting that this desire, combined with the AI boom, will create the perfect environment for its AI-powered cloud network to thrive.
(Photo by Unsplash)
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