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.
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.
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.
Speakers
In partnership with
