Paris, June 16, 2025 –

Nvidia (NVD) CEO Jensen Huang has been advocating for “sovereign AI” since 2023, a concept emphasizing that each nation should develop and control its own artificial intelligence infrastructure to preserve its unique language, culture, history, and knowledge. During a high-profile tour of Europe’s major capitals—London, Paris, and Berlin—last week, Huang announced a series of partnerships and projects aimed at bolstering the continent’s AI capabilities, while underscoring the region’s current shortage of AI infrastructure. His vision is gaining momentum as European leaders grow increasingly cautious about reliance on a few U.S. tech giants, especially following recent tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking at Nvidia’s GTC Paris event, held alongside VivaTech on June 11, Huang declared, “We are going to invest billions in here … but Europe needs to move into AI quickly.” He projected a tenfold increase in Europe’s AI computing capacity within two years, driven by the construction of over 20 AI “factories”—data centers designed to generate AI tokens, some exceeding a gigawatt in capacity, placing them among the world’s largest. These investments, Huang argued, will position Europe to transition from merely adopting AI to building it, fostering economic growth and technological independence.

Key Partnerships and Projects

Huang unveiled several strategic collaborations to support Europe’s sovereign AI ambitions:

• France: A landmark partnership with French startup Mistral will see the deployment of 18,000 Nvidia Grace Blackwell chips to build an “AI cloud” tailored to European businesses. This initiative, set to expand in 2026, aims to provide a homegrown alternative to U.S.-based AI services. Mistral’s CEO, Arthur Mensch, emphasized the need for European tech champions, stating, “There’s no reason why Europe shouldn’t have tech champions”.
• Germany: Nvidia is collaborating with Deutsche Telekom to advance sovereign AI infrastructure, leveraging Nvidia’s Nemotron tool to develop large language models (LLMs) tuned to local linguistic and cultural contexts.
• United Kingdom: Huang joined U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at London Tech Week to announce a £1 billion investment in AI research compute by 2030, supported by a national AI skills initiative through Nvidia’s Deep Learning Institute. Nvidia also plans to establish an AI lab in the U.K. to upskill developers.
• Italy and Armenia: Additional infrastructure projects were announced, though specifics remain limited.
• Telecom and Cloud Providers: Partnerships with companies like Orange and Telefonica will enhance AI application deployment and LLM development across the region.

Nvidia is also expanding its technology centers in Finland, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the U.K., and integrating its CUDA-Q platform into Denmark’s Gefion supercomputer to advance hybrid quantum-AI research.

Sovereign AI: A Strategic Imperative

Huang’s pitch for sovereign AI resonates with European policymakers wary of over-dependence on U.S. tech firms like Microsoft and Amazon. The concept aligns with the European Union’s broader push for digital sovereignty, evidenced by its February 2025 announcement to build four “AI gigafactories” at a cost of $20 billion to reduce reliance on foreign technology. Huang has reportedly assured the European Commission that Nvidia will allocate chip production to support these factories, further cementing its role in Europe’s AI ecosystem.

“Sovereign AI is an imperative—no company, industry, or nation can outsource its intelligence,” Huang said during a VivaTech keynote, comparing AI infrastructure to essential utilities like electricity and the internet. He emphasized that Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72, a high-performance AI platform now in full production, is designed for “thinking machines” capable of reasoning and planning, making it ideal for sovereign AI applications ranging from LLMs to quantum computing.

Geopolitical Context and Challenges

Huang’s European tour comes at a time of heightened geopolitical scrutiny. U.S. export controls on advanced AI chips have restricted Nvidia’s access to the Chinese market, prompting Huang to warn that Chinese competitors like Huawei are becoming “formidable” and could dominate AI infrastructure in regions where U.S. firms are absent. He expressed concern that a lack of U.S. participation in global markets could cede influence to Chinese technology, stating, “It’s even more important that the American technology stack is what AI developers around the world build on”.

In Europe, Huang’s vision has been met with enthusiasm but also skepticism. Posts on X reflect excitement about Europe’s AI expansion, with users noting Huang’s prediction of a 10x increase in AI capacity. However, some question the feasibility of rapid scaling given regulatory hurdles and energy demands. Others highlight the strategic importance of sovereign AI in reducing Europe’s reliance on U.S. tech, aligning with Huang’s narrative.

Economic and Industry Impact

Nvidia’s push into Europe is not just about philanthropy—it’s a lucrative opportunity. Huang described sovereign AI as a “multibillion-dollar vertical market” in Nvidia’s Q2 2025 earnings, with the company already supplying AI systems to nations like India, Japan, and France. By positioning itself as a partner in building AI infrastructure, Nvidia ensures demand for its GPUs, particularly as U.S. export restrictions limit sales in China.

Huang also highlighted the broader industrial implications, showcasing Nvidia’s Omniverse platform for digital twins and the DRIVE platform for autonomous vehicles, both of which are being adopted by European industries. A demonstration featuring a robot named Grek, developed with DeepMind and Disney, underscored Nvidia’s advancements in robotics, signaling a future where AI permeates manufacturing, transportation, and beyond.

Looking Ahead

As Europe races to build its AI infrastructure, Nvidia’s role as a key enabler is undeniable. Huang’s charm offensive, marked by high-profile appearances with leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has solidified his status as a tech rockstar. Yet, challenges remain, including ensuring energy sustainability for massive AI factories and navigating complex EU regulations.

For now, Huang’s message is clear: Europe must seize the AI moment to secure its technological and cultural sovereignty. With billions in investments and a slew of partnerships, Nvidia is betting big on the continent’s potential to become a global AI powerhouse.

Sources: Reuters, Nvidia Blog, CNBC, Business Insider, Quantum Zeitgeist, X posts