Microsoft invests $400M in Switzerland, doubling down on Europe’s AI and cloud push

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced multi-billion-dollar AI and cloud investments in Germany, Spain, and Poland. Now, the Redmond tech giant is putting another $400 million into Switzerland as it doubles down on its European expansion.

The company shared the news on Monday during a meeting in Bern between Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin and Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith.

The investment will go toward upgrading and expanding four existing data centers located near Zurich and Geneva. Demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Switzerland has been growing fast, and this move is Microsoft’s way of keeping up.

“The money will be used to expand and upgrade its four data centres near Geneva and Zurich, responding to increased demand for AI and cloud computing services in Switzerland,” Reuters reported.

There’s no word yet on how many new jobs this expansion might create, but the company already employs around 1,000 people in Switzerland.

Microsoft has been on an investment spree across Europe over the past few months. In February, it committed €3.2 billion to bolster AI infrastructure in Germany. Just days later, the company unveiled a $2.1 billion plan to expand its cloud and AI footprint in Spain over the next two years. Then, on February 17, it announced a $700 million investment to strengthen cybersecurity and cloud services in Poland.

Beyond infrastructure, Microsoft plans to work more closely with local startups and small-to-medium-sized businesses. It’s also ramping up its AI and digital skills training programs to help more people and organizations get hands-on with the tech.

Another key part of this push is keeping Swiss data inside Swiss borders—a major requirement for industries like healthcare, finance, and government.

“Switzerland has created one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems, blending world-class research with real-world applications,” Smith said in a statement.

This move adds to Microsoft’s growing list of investments across Europe, as the company responds to strong regional demand and growing competition in cloud and AI services.