Latest news with #SWIGroup
Khaleej Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
SWI Group's Max-Hervé George backs major data centre expansion with AiOnX to power Europe's AI growth
As global economies reorient around artificial intelligence, data sovereignty, and sustainable compute capacity, Europe is accelerating efforts to future-proof its digital backbone. Under the leadership of Max-Hervé George, chairman and co-CEO of SWI Group, the company has evolved into a leading force in European private markets, shaping investment strategies around high-barrier, future-critical sectors. With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, sovereign cloud storage, and cross-border compute demands, George is closely aligned with the vision behind AiOnX - a dedicated platform for high-density, energy-efficient data centre infrastructure across Europe. With a long-term goal of building a €20 billion platform across five strategic locations, AiOnX is developing sovereign-grade, hyperscale data centres that will span over 313 hectares and deliver up to 2GW of total power capacity. The platform is focused on underpenetrated but policy-aligned markets across Europe, bringing together high-performance infrastructure, modular scalability, and integrated renewable energy. AiOnX has already initiated one of its UK-based projects in Cambridgeshire, an emerging hub for technology and advanced research. The location benefits from strategic proximity to innovation clusters, grid access, and regulatory stability, making it an ideal environment for AiOnX to execute its sustainability-forward, performance-driven infrastructure model. "AI and data infrastructure aren't just emerging sectors - they're rapidly becoming foundational pillars of modern economies," said George. "Our role as investors is to anticipate these shifts and position ourselves with conviction." As data increasingly becomes a national asset, infrastructure like AiOnX is critical to ensuring operational independence, compliance with digital policies, and resilience in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SWI Group: Max‑Hervé George's Launches Landmark €20 Billion Plan to Reinvent Europe's Digital Infrastructure
LONDON, UK / / July 11, 2025 / As Europe accelerates into a new era driven by data, AI, and cloud computing, Max‑Hervé George is making a strategic commitment that could reshape the continent's digital backbone. Through SWI Group and its dedicated infrastructure platform, AiOnX, the French investor is channeling north of €20 billion into the development of hyperscale data centers aimed at supporting Europe's sovereignty in the digital age. Max‑Hervé George: Strategic Vision Backed by Real Assets Recognized for his foresight in alternative investments, Max‑Hervé George is no stranger to anticipating long-term trends. After co-founding Ultima Capital and founding Icona Capital, George led the strategic merger of Icona with Stoneweg, creating a consolidated investment firm now known as SWI Group. With more than $11 billion in assets under management, SWI is a London and Switzerland-based alternative investment group active in private equity, real estate, private debt, and infrastructure. Today, George's leadership is taking the firm in a bold direction-placing digital infrastructure at the heart of its future. AiOnX: Building Europe's Digital Engine Room At the core of this strategic shift is AiOnX, the SWI Group platform dedicated to hyperscale data center development. These facilities, essential for powering AI, cloud services, and the data economy, are no longer optional-they are the digital infrastructure of the 21st century. AiOnX's current roadmap includes five large-scale projects across: Ireland Denmark Spain Italy United Kingdom With a total pipeline of 2 GW, these developments represent an investment of more than €20 billion over the next years. The most recent project-a 330 MW data center in Cambridgeshire, UK-is specifically designed to meet the growing computational demands of artificial intelligence and high-density cloud computing workloads. A European Vision for Digital Sovereignty In a world where global cloud infrastructure is dominated by U.S. giants (GAFAM), Max‑Hervé George is pushing for a model rooted in European autonomy. His ambition: to ensure Europe doesn't just consume digital services, but builds and controls the infrastructure behind them. This vision is grounded in a broader strategy to give a European dimension to SWI Group-not only in terms of operations, but also in terms of sovereignty, sustainability, and innovation. "Digital sovereignty starts with infrastructure," a spokesperson for AiOnX said. "The power to store, compute, and manage data within Europe is no longer a luxury-it's a necessity." Green IT at Scale: Sustainability is Non-Negotiable Data centers consume vast amounts of energy, and with environmental concerns growing globally, AiOnX integrates sustainability at the design level. All current and future sites are engineered to operate using renewable energy and state-of-the-art cooling systems. Key pillars of AiOnX's sustainable strategy: Integration of green energy sources including wind, solar, and hydro Advanced cooling technologies to reduce water and energy consumption Compliance with EU taxonomy and ESG investment frameworks By combining high efficiency with environmental stewardship, AiOnX is proving that scale and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. The Growing Role of Data Infrastructure Data centers are no longer niche assets. They are fundamental to economic competitiveness, national security, and technological advancement. As AI applications become more sophisticated and data-driven services grow exponentially, Europe's current infrastructure faces severe capacity constraints. SWI's move into hyperscale development via AiOnX is both a commercial response to market demand and a geopolitical statement. By controlling its data infrastructure, Europe gains resilience and independence in a field previously dominated by non-European players. SWI Group: Anchored in Europe, Open to the World Headquartered in London and Geneva, SWI Group operates with an international outlook but remains strongly committed to its European DNA. Its ability to move decisively into digital infrastructure reflects both its investment expertise and long-standing partnerships across real estate and private capital markets. With a focus on long-term, essential assets, SWI is positioning itself as a major player in next-generation infrastructure development-combining financial rigor with innovation leadership. Laying the Foundations for Tomorrow's Digital Europe Max‑Hervé George is not merely investing in technology-he is building the physical foundations upon which Europe's digital economy will stand. Through AiOnX, he and SWI Group are working to ensure that Europe has the computing power, energy strategy, and sovereign infrastructure to compete globally in the decades ahead. This is not just a business story. It's a strategic commitment to Europe's digital independence, a long-term investment in sustainability, and a belief that infrastructure is where true innovation begins. About SWI Group SWI Group is a UK and Swiss-based alternative investment firm created through the merger of Icona Capital and Stoneweg. With more than $11 billion in assets under management, SWI operates across real estate, private equity, private debt, and infrastructure. The company is led by Max‑Hervé George, who has a strong track record of identifying structural investment trends. Through its infrastructure platform AiOnX, SWI is developing hyperscale data centers across Europe, combining technological ambition with environmental responsibility. Media ContactMike ThomasMedia Contact Name: Corporate Communications, SWI GroupEmail: press@ SOURCE: SWI Group View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Arabian Business
07-07-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Max-Hervé George Leads SWI Group's Bold Pivot Toward AI and Data Infrastructure
In a world where investment capital often chases the next shiny object, SWI Group stands out for its methodical, long-view approach to wealth creation. Headquartered in Switzerland, the firm has spent the past decade building a reputation as a thoughtful and agile allocator of capital across diverse industries. Now, under the guidance of its chairman and co-CEO, Max-Hervé George, the firm is turning its focus to one of the most consequential shifts of the 21 st century: artificial intelligence and the data infrastructure needed to support it. The decision is not simply about staying current—it reflects a strategic belief that AI and digital infrastructure will define the next era of productivity, sovereignty, and value creation in Europe. Traditionally, SWI Group has invested across real estate, private equity, financial services, and hospitality. That track record has given it an understanding of asset cycles, risk mitigation, and cross-border opportunity. But today, the group is redeploying its resources into high-impact verticals that power the digital economy. 'SWI Group was built on anticipating what's next,' said Max-Hervé George. 'Right now, we see AI as the defining growth vector—and data centres as the hardware layer of that future.' As demand for digital services grows, the need for robust, scalable, and energy-efficient data centres has surged to support advancements in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. AI's rise only amplifies this demand. From training large language models to powering real-time analytics, these computing workloads require infrastructure that's resilient, low-latency, and secure. SWI's strategy is as much philosophical as it is financial. The firm is not just allocating capital—it's reimagining where value will be created over the next 10 to 15 years. This means identifying underserved European markets, aligning with policymakers, and partnering with tech-forward operators who understand both the technical and regulatory dimensions of infrastructure. But even as it charts a new path, SWI is not abandoning its diversified roots. The company's multi-sector experience helps de-risk its forward-looking bets, while its flexible structure allows it to act swiftly in a fast-moving investment environment. George emphasises that this shift is not speculative. 'We're not chasing hype—we're backing fundamentals. The world's need for secure computation, responsible AI, and sustainable infrastructure is only growing. Europe is the place to build it.' With a portfolio that now straddles the physical and digital, SWI Group is positioning itself not just as a capital allocator but as a contributor to Europe's evolving digital infrastructure.
Gulf Today
07-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Max-Hervé George led SWI Group Targets Europe's AI Infrastructure Gap
SWI Group, a diversified investment firm headquartered in Switzerland, is repositioning itself to meet the demands of Europe's fast-changing digital economy. With a deep bench in real estate, private equity, and structured finance, the firm is now focusing heavily on artificial intelligence and data centre infrastructure—sectors increasingly viewed as central to economic resilience and technological sovereignty. This pivot reflects a broader realignment within European capital markets, as traditional asset classes face margin compression and geopolitical volatility. For SWI, the opportunity lies in capturing long-term growth at the infrastructure layer of AI and digital services. Max-Hervé George, the firm's Chairman and Co-CEO, sees the shift as essential. 'We are at the start of a secular transformation in how data is processed, stored, and monetized,' he said. 'Our aim is to invest not just in trends, but in foundations.' The move comes as Europe grapples with its digital dependence on non-European cloud providers. Policy momentum—driven by digital sovereignty goals and the Green Deal—is pushing for domestically owned, carbon-conscious data infrastructure. SWI's focus on this intersection of technology and sustainability is timely. While other firms are chasing late-stage AI startups, SWI's thesis is more infrastructure-first. The firm is pursuing green data centre sites, AI-enabled logistics platforms, and software ecosystems that integrate with the European regulatory framework. This conservative yet forward-looking strategy allows SWI to stay above the noise while investing in defensible, long-term assets. Strategically, SWI's multi-sector background gives it an edge in identifying real-world bottlenecks in AI deployment, whether they be latency issues in logistics or lack of processing power in edge computing applications. This intelligence is already informing the firm's pipeline, which includes AI infrastructure hubs in secondary European markets where power availability, land cost, and policy support align. 'SWI is not just moving capital—we're translating vision into infrastructure,' George added. 'We're not reacting to today's headlines. We're investing in tomorrow's reality.' With one foot in the physical economy and one in the digital, SWI Group appears well-placed to bridge Europe's past and future.
Entrepreneur
03-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Max-Hervé George Details SWI's Investment Case for Underground AI and Data Infrastructure
As AI reshapes economic landscapes, SWI Group specializes in delivering the essential, high-performance infrastructure that underpins all intelligent systems. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. SWI Group, a recently merged entity formed from Stoneweg and Icona Capital with over €10 billion in assets under management, has broadened its investment remit to include digital infrastructure across Europe. Known for its pan-European real assets platform and alternatives strategy, the group is now building out foundational technologies that support intelligent systems. "We are at the start of a secular transformation in how data is processed, stored, and monetized," said Max-Hervé George. "Our aim is to invest not just in trends, but in foundations." SWI Group, under the leadership of Max-Hervé George, has begun acquiring and developing AI-ready data centers, edge compute nodes, and sovereign compute regions in locations selected for access to renewable energy, regulatory stability, and potential for future expansion. This infrastructure push represents a strategic shift that aligns SWI's long-term capital cycle with Europe's growing demand for compliant and resilient compute capacity. In parallel, SWI is retrofitting brownfield sites to meet state‑of‑the‑art technical and sustainability benchmarks. Modular designs and efficient cooling systems are being deployed to ensure adherence to EU ESG regulations and prepare for forthcoming AI‑centric frameworks. Leveraging its combined structure—Stoneweg Real Assets and Icona Alternatives—SWI benefits from deep expertise in structured finance, thematic investing, and operational delivery. That cross‑functional advantage strengthens the underwriting of complex digital infrastructure. The current pipeline spans enterprise, government, and cloud‑oriented facilities offering stable, utility‑style revenue and diversified use cases. With Europe sharpening its focus on secure and ethically aligned AI deployment, SWI's infrastructure play reflects both commercial foresight and robust institutional support.
