Berlin, Germany — Google unveiled Tuesday its biggest-ever investment in Germany, pledging 5.5 billion euros ($6.4 billion) for a new data center and other projects, as Europe seeks to catch up in the AI race.
“We are driving growth in Germany,” Chancellor Friedrich Merz said as the investments, to be made by 2029, were announced.
“Our country is and will remain one of the most attractive places for investment in the world,” he said.
Google’s plans include a new data center and expansion of an existing center in the western state of Hesse, providing computing power for artificial intelligence.
It also plans to expand its offices in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, and outlined various projects aimed at reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
These included buying renewable wind and solar energy and a “heat recovery project” that would see excess heat produced by a data center re-used by local residents.
The plans will support around 9,000 jobs a year in Germany, Google said.
The investments are a boost for Germany, whose economy is struggling, as well as for Europe it seeks to catch up with AI leaders the United States and China.
