The U.S. tech giant announced on Monday that Microsoft will extend its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Sweden over a two-year period by investing 33.7 billion Swedish crowns ($3.21 billion).
The investment, which is Microsoft’s largest in Sweden to date, also includes a commitment to assist in the training of about 250,000 individuals with AI skills, or 2.4% of the population, which will help increase the competitiveness of the Nordic nation, it continued.
“This announcement goes beyond technology, it’s a commitment to ensuring broad access to the tools and skills needed for Sweden’s people and economy to thrive in the AI era,” Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said in a statement.
The company stated that as part of its investment, it intends to install 20,000 of the most cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPU), which accelerate computer computations, at its data center locations in Sandviken, Gavle, and Staffanstorp, Sweden.
Smith was scheduled to meet on Monday in Stockholm with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Microsoft declared its commitment to accelerating the use of AI in the Nordic region, which encompasses Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden in addition to Sweden.