French AI startup Sesterce unveils €10 billion Finland data center project

French AI infrastructure company Sesterce has announced a €10 billion investment in constructing AI data centres in Jämsä, Central Finland. The project, set to be one of the largest of its kind, would dwarf Google's recent €13 billion investment across multiple locations. Sesterce's CEO, Youssef El Manssouri, confirmed the investment decision has been made and a contract signed with a major AI laboratory client.

However, the identity of the client and the financial backers remain undisclosed. Sesterce, headquartered in Marseille, was established in 2021 and generated €11.95 million in revenue in 2024. The former paper mill site, owned by real estate company Kaipola Green Port, is currently undergoing negotiations for sale. If completed, the data centre would create around 2,000 jobs during construction and approximately 300 full-time positions once operational.

The first phase of construction, involving a 200-megawatt liquid-cooled facility, is slated to commence before year-end. Sesterce aims to expand its AI capacity in Finland to over one gigawatt in the long term. The company has pledged to generate an equivalent amount of renewable electricity for the data centre and establish a €10 million community fund for local projects.

Town officials have expressed cautious optimism about the potential benefits of the project, though they acknowledge numerous regulatory hurdles must be overcome before the data centre becomes a reality.