From ambition to action:
Franco-British competitiveness in an era of sovereignty
The 2026 Franco-British Business Conference will take place during a period of profound global transformation. Energy systems, defence capabilities, and digital technologies are being reshaped by geopolitical rivalry, supply-chain disruptions, and the accelerating green and AI revolutions.
Building on the lessons of the 2025 edition, this year’s conference moves from ambition to action – focusing on delivery, integration, and impact. In 2025, leaders highlighted bold ambitions at Lancaster House and across key Franco-British initiatives. The challenge now is implementation: ensuring that policies, partnerships, and investments translate into tangible results.
The conference will explore how governments and industries can move beyond declarations to implementation – delivering faster procurement, innovative financing for SMEs, and cross-border talent and technology partnerships.
ℹ️ The event is now at capacity and we are operating a wait list.
Programme
- Challenges and Opportunities in 2026 : Michael Saunders, Senior Advisor, Oxford Economics & Ex-Monetary Policy Committee, BoE will open the conference with a data-driven overview of the global and European business landscape, setting the tone with key insights on energy, geopolitics, AI, and competitiveness.
- Fireside Chat – Where Next for UK–France Cooperation?: Policy-facing i.e. designed to take the business takeaways back into government agendas
- CEO Interview: A high-level interview with Simone Rossi, CEO, EDF Energy and Group Senior Executive VP, exploring how global companies are navigating energy transition, digital transformation, and geopolitical uncertainty – and the role of bilateral cooperation in strengthening Europe’s industrial resilience.
Panel discussions:
Three panels will delve deeper into the conference’s core themes, bringing together senior executives, policymakers, and experts to discuss defence and security, digital innovation, and the energy transition:
DEFENCE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY: From Doctrine to Delivery
Exploring how Franco-British defence cooperation can shift from high-level agreements to practical implementation – aligning procurement, export controls, and industrial capacity to meet shared security goals.
Panel introduced by Diane Mullenex, Global Head of the Retail, Sports & Hospitality Sector (Pinsent Masons).
~ Sponsored by
ENERGY AND CLIMATE TRANSITION: From Security to Competitiveness
Focusing on how the UK and France can accelerate renewable investment, grid resilience, and industrial electrification while maintaining affordability and sustainability.
Panel introduced by Emma Dennard, Vice President of Northern Europe (OVH Cloud).
~ Sponsored by
TECHNOLOGY, AI & DIGITAL COLLABORATION: From Hype to Adoption
A discussion on how businesses can move from pilots to real deployment.
Panellists will address regulation, skills, and infrastructure to ensure AI drives competitiveness rather than fragmentation.
Panel introduced by Bo de Laere, MSc, Global Affairs Intern (Dassault Systemes).
~ Sponsored by
Speakers
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