In 2021, the French government released France 2030, a national strategy for technological advancement and economic resilience. Among its goals are to ‘support immersive technologies’ and ‘prepare society as a whole for the jobs of tomorrow by investing in training.’

In alignment with these objectives, Cisco announced several initiatives at the 2025 Choose France Summit that will lead to the creation of its Global AI Hub in France. The hub will include a centre in Paris for innovative cooling solutions for data centres as well as a focus on secure, energy-efficient artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, digital upskilling and startup ecosystem innovation.

To better equip France’s workforce with digital skills, Cisco plans to train 230,000 people over the next three years in everything from cybersecurity and data science to Internet of Things and AI through its Networking Academy. The initiative is one of the world’s longest-running information technology skills-to-jobs programmes, and its free courses are accessible across a variety of devices, including mobile phones.

Cisco’s investment supports the company’s commitment to train 1.5 million people in the EU by 2030 and provide free access to the skills needed for the digital world and the future of work. Since 2001, Cisco has trained nearly 400,000 individuals throughout France, and it taps into a network of over 500 academies across the country. In addition to its skills training programmes, the company has research and educational partnerships with some of France’s most esteemed universities and will advance its collaboration with a focus on AI and quantum technologies.

At the Choose France Summit in Paris, Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco, reflected on the benefits of basing its Global AI Hub in France:

‘The AI revolution is reshaping the world, and we’re proud to deepen our 36-year partnership with France as it continues towards global AI leadership. With top talent, strong infrastructure and a vibrant ecosystem, France is well-positioned to lead the way, and Cisco’s investments in AI and skills across Europe will help unlock the continent’s full potential.’

Cisco has played a pivotal role in building France’s digital infrastructure since 1989, and since 2015, the company’s Country Digital Acceleration programme has driven 14 national-scale projects across key sectors including cybersecurity, sovereign cloud and defence. These projects underscore Cisco’s commitment to advancing France’s digital resilience and innovation goals as well as growing the scale and impact of its own footprint in the country.