Summary:
Le 2 septembre 2025, la société de logiciels allemande SAP a annoncé un investissement de plus de 20 milliards d’euros dans les capacités de cloud souverain en Europe au cours de la prochaine décennie. L’initiative vise à améliorer la souveraineté des données, garantissant la conformité aux réglementations de l’UE comme le RGPD et fournissant des services technologiques avancés au sein de la région. Les aspects clés incluent l’expansion des offres IaaS, l’introduction d’une nouvelle option d’infrastructure sur site et le soutien à l’agenda de souveraineté technologique de l’UE, y compris l’implication dans des gigafactories d’IA. SAP a confirmé que l’investissement s’aligne sur ses plans financiers et n’affectera pas ses dépenses d’investissement pour l’année à venir.
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German software powerhouse SAP has unveiled a groundbreaking investment plan, pledging over 20 billion euros ($23.3 billion) to develop its sovereign cloud capabilities in Europe over the next decade. The initiative underscores SAP’s commitment to enhancing digital sovereignty for European organizations while ensuring compliance with regional data protection standards, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
At its core, the investment focuses on expanding SAP’s infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) platform, a competitive market currently dominated by major players like Microsoft and Amazon. By bolstering its sovereign cloud network, the company aims to provide European businesses with secure access to advanced computing services deployed via SAP-operated data center infrastructure. Moreover, SAP has announced a novel on-site deployment option, enabling customers to utilize SAP’s infrastructure within their own data centers, ensuring enhanced control over data residency and compliance.
The legal foundation for this move is anchored in GDPR, which enforces stringent standards for data privacy and mandates that personal data of EU citizens remain secure and, in many cases, within EU borders. SAP’s initiative aligns seamlessly with this regulation, addressing growing concerns among European policymakers and corporate leaders regarding the reliance on non-European cloud providers and the geopolitical risks tied to cross-border data flows.
Ethically, the investment reflects a broader commitment to the principle of technological sovereignty. As noted by Thomas Saueressig, an SAP board member, the integration of innovation and sovereignty is essential. By emphasizing European-controlled infrastructure, SAP is empowering businesses to harness the latest technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, without compromising on data autonomy. This is particularly significant in an era where cloud services power AI training, data analytics, and other cutting-edge applications, and where concerns about foreign influence on critical infrastructure have intensified.
Industry-wise, SAP’s decision represents a paradigm shift with wide-ranging implications. First, it intensifies competition within the European cloud market, traditionally dominated by U.S. tech giants. By offering sovereign cloud solutions tailored to local regulatory environments, SAP is poised to cater to a growing market segment prioritizing data locality and sovereignty. Second, the investment complements the European Commission’s broader agenda of becoming a leader in AI innovation. Earlier this year, the EU committed 20 billion euros to developing “AI gigafactories”—facilities equipped with advanced supercomputers for next-gen AI model development. Though SAP is not the lead entity in this initiative, its sovereign cloud solutions could serve as critical infrastructure to support such facilities.
Concrete examples illustrate the value of SAP’s initiative. For instance, European banks and healthcare providers, which operate in highly regulated industries with rigorous data protection requirements, could leverage SAP’s sovereign cloud offerings to ensure compliance while accessing innovative tools such as AI-powered customer service platforms or predictive analytics capabilities. Similarly, public sector entities concerned about cybersecurity risks associated with foreign-operated infrastructure could benefit from localized, EU-compliant data services provided by SAP.
Lastly, SAP emphasized that this substantial investment will neither disrupt its capital expenditure forecasts for the coming year nor strain its financial resources, as it has already been accounted for in the company’s broader fiscal plans. This pragmatic approach ensures long-term financial sustainability while positioning SAP as a leader in fostering Europe’s digital independence.
In conclusion, SAP’s sovereign cloud initiative is a strategic response to regulatory demands, ethical imperatives, and market dynamics, emphasizing the importance of technological sovereignty in an increasingly interconnected and AI-driven world. The move is poised to reshape the European cloud and AI landscape, offering a viable alternative to foreign-dominated solutions while fostering innovation within the continent.