Ahead of Vivatech, Europe’s largest technology conference, Euractiv sat with managing director François Bitouzet to discuss the challenges facing the industry, the opportunities, and why it is more important than ever for EU lawmakers to attend this year.
Vivatech has grown over the past nine years, to become the largest tech event in Europe, with an increasing number of officials attending. This edition will be more international than previous years, with China increasing its presence and the United States joining for the first time, according to the Vivatech press release seen by Euractiv.
Lead speakers include Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta and former European Commissioner in charge of the internal market Thierry Breton as well as AI chief scientist at Meta Yann LeCun. Vivatech claims 14,000 startups and 165,000 visitors attended the 2024 edition.
The following is an edited transcript.
Euractiv: As managing director of Vivatech, can you tell us what makes this year’s edition different from previous ones?
François Bitouzet: There is an unprecedented level of enthusiasm this year, stronger than anything we have seen in previous editions.
Firstly, people know that Vivatech showcases the best innovations from around the world, including our focus on AI and our ability to respond to people’s concerns.
Secondly, participants have long recognised Vivatech as the leading venue where the world’s best tech thinkers and experts gather. And, at a time when the world is undergoing major changes, with tech playing a crucial role, they know we’ll provide them with answers.
Would you encourage the European ‘bubble’ in Brussels and members of the European Parliament to attend Vivatech in Paris?
FB: If there’s one key strategic issue today, it’s tech innovation. For an MEP, Vivatech is the best place to discuss Europe’s role in driving innovation. It’s an opportunity for them to position themselves and gain international visibility.
In fact, EU legislators are more eagerly awaited than ever by startups and companies, whether European or international, at Vivatech this year. We would be delighted to give them the chance to speak and explain their vision and Europe’s stance at this critical moment.
How do startups see the future in light of current geopolitical movements, especially in the US, which has announced 20% tariffs on the EU?
FB: Firstly, tech startups are not affected by the tariffs imposed by the United States. But regardless of political issues, there is a strong desire to do business on both sides of the Atlantic and to continue transatlantic trade. This feeling remains very strong.
Startups coming to Vivatech want to grow within their national market, then within the EU single market, and then expand into the US market. The US remains the obvious market for European startups. On the other hand, for US startups, there’s always a point in their development when the EU becomes a key market to enter.
One key discussion in Europe today is about strengthening the attractiveness of the single market through a transnational legal status, dubbed the 28th regime or EU Inc. Does this give hope to startups?
FB: This transnational legal regime has created immense hope!
The 28th regime is also highly anticipated by non-European startups. I recently spoke to South Koreans who told me that while Europe is a great market, it’s complicated to navigate because of the different languages and regulations, making entry into the single market difficult. This initiative could create a unified tech and digital market. It’s really something important for everyone – both domestic and international players.
France is currently facing a massive public deficit and record debt. Given these macro-economic indicators, what is the prevailing mood among startups regarding the economic situation in France and across the continent?
FB: Of course, there’s this context in France that you mention, but at the same time, with all the geopolitics that are taking shape, startups are realising that investing in innovation and tech is crucial, whether it’s at the European level or within individual European states, especially in France.
Startups today see that if they play their strategic game well, there are significant opportunities for growth. They feel they are at a tipping point and are eager to contribute. They also want their contribution to be recognised by both legislators and businesses, and for everyone to play their part.
At Vivatech 2023, we launched an initiative called “Je choisis la French Tech” to encourage large companies to open up their procurement processes to startups, creating a positive dynamic. This movement is ongoing, gaining momentum, and is a win-win for all economic actors.
Are you suggesting the European Commission attend Vivatech this year and launch an “I choose the European Tech” project and declare that the European institutions will give preference to European alternatives in public procurement and make changes to EU procurement laws to prioritise EU companies in member states’ public procurement?
FB: Well, if such an announcement were to be made, I hope it’s at Vivatech, as it’s the ideal place for this initiative to have a significant impact.
When Vivatech was created in 2016, the goal was not only to bring together innovation and business but also to play a geopolitical role: to show that once a year, that Europe is the heart of innovation, the epicentre of global tech. Vivatech serves to show the world, and those who think innovation only happens in China or Silicon Valley, that Europe has innovation, and it’s great and successful.
In this context, I would be delighted to welcome the Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, to Vivatech.
Will you invite Elon Musk again, as was the case in the 2024 and 2023 editions?
FB: At the moment, Elon Musk’s attendance is not planned. But I’m convinced that if we want to understand tech today we need to showcase all its facets. Elon Musk represents one of those facets, and perhaps one of the most important ones. It’s crucial to understand his relationship with tech and the trends he influences.
The new Trump administration has been attacking policies on affirmative action, climate change, and women’s rights. Recently, major French CEOs received a letter demanding that they respect Trump’s anti-diversity policy. What would you do if Elon Musk’s participation was made conditional on the same?
FB: Climate change and women’s rights are deeply embedded in Vivatech and are central to the way we operate. To date, no one has been prevented from attending because of these concerns. We also haven’t received a letter from the US government. What’s more, affirmative action is banned in France, so the issue doesn’t arise for Vivatech.
That’s true, but France has laws that require boards and executive committees to have a certain percentage of women, which is part of what the Trump administration is trying to dismantle.
FB: We don’t have a board of directors at Vivatech. Regarding this issue, I don’t see any problem.
What do startups working on these issues think about this?
FB: We haven’t seen a decrease in the number of startups aiming to have a positive impact on the environment or society. In fact, we expect to see even more of them at Vivatech this year.
I think their main concerns are that climate change is ongoing and that there are still too few women in tech. These are the issues they care about, and they are central to their business. As always, Vivatech shows that tech can have a positive impact on people and the environment and still drive business forward.
Since the new Trump administration took office, there has been a push to use services by European digital companies as alternatives to US Big Tech, with the dual aim of promoting sovereignty and controlling access to European data. Are startups also embracing this issue?
FB: These are key issues around cloud computing and artificial intelligence. One of the most interesting debates at Vivatech will be about open innovation versus closed systems. Do we want to work with tech companies that are focused on closing their services, or do we want to work with those that take an open approach that helps ease the sovereignty debate?
Vivatech will take place this year from 11-14 June.