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.
London - Venue to be announced
Cross-cutting topics
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Agility: how governments and industries adapt to technological and geopolitical change
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SMEs & Mid-Tier Firms: ensuring cooperation benefits businesses of all sizes
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Skills & Talent: fostering training, mobility, and apprenticeships for sustainable growth
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Sovereignty as Resilience: understanding energy, defence, and AI sovereignty as the foundation of competitiveness
Key Themes
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.
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.
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.
Programme
The programme is indicative and subject to change.
- Challenges and Opportunities in 2026
A leading economist 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.
- CEO Interview
A high-level interview with a prominent Franco-British CEO, 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.
- Panels 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.
- Where Next for UK–France Cooperation?
A forward-looking conversation between senior UK and French officials to summarise the day’s outcomes and set priorities for bilateral cooperation in 2027 and beyond.