Ten years after the first edition of VivaTech, the narrative has shifted. In 2016, Paris was still trying to prove that it could hold its own against London, Berlin, and Silicon Valley. In 2026, the issue is no longer one of visibility. It is one of leadership. <\/p>\n\n
Invited to celebrate the trade show\u2019s tenth anniversary, Val\u00e9rie P\u00e9cresse painted a picture of a region that no longer wants to be merely a hub of innovation. It aims to become a full-fledged technological powerhouse. <\/p>\n\n
The goal is clear: to make the \u00cele-de-France region the European hub for artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the strategic infrastructure needed to support their development.<\/p>\n\n
For a long time, Paris has been caught in a paradox. The city was synonymous with luxury, fine dining, culture, and tourism, but rarely with technology. Yet the numbers tell a different story. <\/p>\n\n
According to the regional president, the \u00cele-de-France region is now home to nearly 25,000 startups, 150 incubators, and accounts for about 80% of French fundraising. Major global AI players\u2014from Microsoft to Google, Meta, and OpenAI\u2014have set up their European labs there. This concentration is driven less by tax incentives than by a factor that is harder to replicate: human capital. <\/p>\n\n
Paris-Saclay, often compared to major international scientific clusters, is home to some of the world\u2019s leading expertise in mathematics, fundamental physics, and artificial intelligence. It is within this ecosystem that companies such as Mistral AI and quantum startups like Alice & Bob, Pasqal, and C12 are emerging. <\/p>\n\n
The announcement of the future Maison du Quantique, developed in collaboration with physicist Alain Aspect, is part of this initiative. The goal is simple: to bring together researchers, laboratories, investors, and entrepreneurs in order to accelerate the industrialization of French quantum technologies. <\/p>\n\n
But behind all the enthusiasm for technology lies a much more strategic issue: sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has reminded Europe of its dependence. U.S. models dominate the market. Cloud infrastructure remains largely foreign. Essential electronic components are primarily manufactured in Asia. <\/p>\n\n
For Val\u00e9rie P\u00e9cresse, the solution now lies in the partial relocation of the value chain. Not only must data centers be located within Europe, but certain industrial capacities must also be brought back to France. <\/p>\n\n
The message recently sent to Taiwanese manufacturers is telling: selling in Europe will gradually have to be accompanied by local production. This approach has long been in place in the United States, India, and Brazil. <\/p>\n\n
This vision marks a break with previous decades. For a long time, Western cities have prioritized the knowledge economy and outsourced industrial production. In a world driven by AI, this separation is becoming more fragile. Chips, data centers, and energy infrastructure are once again becoming geopolitical assets. <\/p>\n\n
The other issue concerns the concrete impact of technology on society.<\/p>\n\n
The \u00cele-de-France Region has been piloting public innovation programs focused on AI for several years. Technological challenges have been launched in the healthcare sector in partnership with Gustave Roussy to improve the detection of certain diseases through the analysis of medical images. One of the beneficiary companies was Owkin, which has since become an international leader in AI applied to healthcare. <\/p>\n\n
Education is another area of experimentation. Artificial intelligence is currently being tested to assist teachers in grading assignments and to offer students more personalized learning paths. <\/p>\n\n
That leaves the most sensitive issue: employment.<\/p>\n\n
On this issue, caution prevails. No one really knows which jobs will disappear, which ones will be enhanced by AI, and which ones will emerge in the coming years. The region is currently funding research on changes in the world of work in order to adapt its training and career guidance policies. <\/p>\n\n
One of the most revealing parts of the interview, however, comes at the end.<\/p>\n\n
When Val\u00e9rie P\u00e9cresse discusses Paris\u2019s strengths for the next ten years, she doesn\u2019t start with AI or quantum computing. She talks about quality of life. About the 300 kilometers of new metro lines in Greater Paris. About the city\u2019s cultural appeal. About its ability to attract international talent. <\/p>\n\n
In other words, the global technology race cannot be won with algorithms alone.<\/p>\n\n
Engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors continue to choose locations before choosing technologies.<\/p>\n\n
Ten years after Brexit, Paris enjoys an advantage that few European cities can claim: it has become the European Union\u2019s only truly global metropolis.<\/p>\n\n
The next decade will determine whether this symbolic advantage can translate into sustainable technological leadership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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