Cisco Launches Global AI Hub in Paris
Cisco is deepening its commitment to France’s artificial intelligence future with the launch of a new Global AI Hub in Paris. Announced during the 2025 Choose France Summit, the move is part of a multi-pronged initiative to build AI infrastructure, train a new generation of digital professionals, and scale support for the country's fast-growing tech ecosystem.
At the heart of this expansion is a push for secure, sovereign AI infrastructure. The Paris-based hub will house global expertise in developing energy-efficient, AI-ready systems, including next-generation data center cooling technologies. These systems are designed to meet increasing compute demands while remaining aligned with sustainability goals.
230,000 to Be Trained in Digital and AI Skills
As part of its broader investment, Cisco plans to train 230,000 individuals across France in AI and digital technologies over the next three years. This effort builds on the company’s long-running Networking Academy, which has educated nearly 400,000 people in France since 2001 through more than 500 educational institutions. The new initiative reflects a growing need for workforce readiness amid rapid digital transformation across sectors.
The skill-building component aims to address both public and private sector challenges, ensuring that businesses, government agencies, and young professionals are equipped to navigate AI-driven changes in the economy.
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Expanding Support for France’s AI Startups
In tandem with infrastructure and talent development, Cisco is expanding its support for French AI startups, including Mistral AI — a Paris-based firm that has gained momentum as one of Europe’s top AI model developers. The partnership includes co-developing AI agents and is backed by Cisco’s $1 billion AI investment fund.
This collaboration underscores a shift in how tech giants are approaching ecosystem development: not just as financiers, but as engineering and go-to-market partners helping startups scale globally.
France Emerges as a Key AI Investment Destination
Cisco’s initiative dovetails with a broader surge of investment in France’s AI ecosystem. Earlier this year, Microsoft committed $4.3 billion to expanding its AI and cloud presence in the country, while training one million people in AI-related skills and deploying up to 25,000 GPUs.
President Emmanuel Macron’s AI investment roadmap is targeting €109 billion in total funding, with key contributions expected from Brookfield, the UAE, and other global backers. These moves position France as one of the leading hubs for AI advancement in Europe, driven by a blend of public incentives, private capital, and international partnerships.
Strategic Impact for Cisco and Europe
The Paris AI Hub marks a broader strategic play for Cisco, not just in France, but across Europe. As AI accelerates across industries, the company is anchoring itself at the intersection of infrastructure resilience, energy efficiency, and sovereign data control.
With the Paris hub, France gains a central role in shaping how enterprise-grade AI is developed, deployed, and scaled across borders, while Cisco reinforces its foothold as a critical enabler of the AI-powered economy.
