VivaTech promises, once again, to demonstrate why it has become an essential stop on the international business calendar. With its expanding global reach and emphasis on crucial topics like artificial intelligence, sustainable technology, and mobility, VivaTech stands out as the premier destination for decoding emerging trends and assessing their economic and social implications.
The 2024 edition of VivaTech is set to be a historic event, with a 30% increase in the number of European countries present compared to the previous year. VivaTech will welcome over 120 countries and 40 pavilions, including the first appearance of the United Kingdom among the 14 European countries represented. Japan, the “Country of the Year,” will showcase its technological ecosystem and arrive with a delegation of institutions, companies, and startups, while many other countries from Asia, America, and Africa will also be well represented. VivaTech will also host the AfricaTech Awards for the third consecutive year.
As a leading business platform, VivaTech will provide fertile ground for over 2,500 startups and 2,000 international investors like Accel, KKR, Lightspeed, and Northzone. 350 companies and organizations will be present, spanning the 25 most dynamic market sectors, including automotive, healthcare, and retail. VivaTech is also introducing a new program designed to help business leaders (CMO, CIO, CTO, CDO, etc.) drive growth and innovation.
In a growing commitment to responsible technology, VivaTech dedicates 10% of its exhibition space to this field, including the Impact Bridge, a new space sponsored by EDF that brings together startups, innovations, and non-profit partnerships in a responsible technological approach.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing all sectors, shifting from an innovative technology to an indispensable tool: 88% of business leaders surveyed by VivaTech plan to invest in AI in 2024. AI will take center stage at VivaTech this year, with 37% of our partners showcasing their AI-based solutions, and with AI Mile, a new space designed to highlight some of the innovators in artificial intelligence.
Each of the featured innovations will have applications across the 25 economic sectors represented at VivaTech, reflecting the wide range of AI applications. There will also be boundary-free discussions on the social issues surrounding AI, with speakers like Arthur Mensch, co-founder and chairman of Mistral AI; Dario Amodei, co-founder and CEO of Anthropic; and Sneha Revanur, founder and president of Encode Justice, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and deep reflection on the impact and potential of AI.
“As every year, VivaTech will showcase innovations associated with technology, startups, and of course, artificial intelligence, which is at the center of the strategy of nearly every company. The knowledge of everything that AI offers in all sectors inevitably comes with an increasingly understanding of the employment risks that may result from its excessive or uncontrolled use. There is a growing consensus on the need for regulation, as confirmed by our recent survey. The debates at VivaTech with the most advanced and experienced experts will highlight the full potential of AI, its positive advances, and its innovative solutions in fields like health, cybersecurity, climate, industry, education, etc. It is these discussions and many others that will inform entrepreneurs’ decisions over the next 12 months,” explain VivaTech’s co-organizers: Maurice Lévy, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe, and Pierre Louette, CEO of Les Echos – Le Parisien Group.
93% of business leaders consider sustainable technology strategic for addressing future challenges
Sustainable technology, a topic of great importance and public concern, is also a key issue for business leaders. According to the VivaTech survey, 93% of respondents in Europe and the United States are convinced that technology is a great ally in facing tomorrow’s challenges. Investment in this sector is increasing and expected to double by 2027 to foster innovation in the face of climate change. Witness the success of sustainable technology startups, which managed to raise a record $51 billion by 2023.
Among the solutions to be presented this year at VivaTech are:
– Agrist (Japan) leads agricultural innovation with AI-driven robots that streamline harvesting and enable real-time soil data analysis to improve crop management.
– Value Park (France) was created to develop renewable cold production technologies from marine resources.
– Bioteos (France) is a solution to improve air quality using microscopic algae. This technology allows for the treatment of not only atmospheric pollutants but also viruses and bacteria.
Speakers this year will include Alloysius Attah, CEO of Farmerline; Rachel Delacour, co-founder, CEO, and president of SWEEP; Craig Douglas, General Partner of the World Fund; and Christophe Gras, General Partner of Planet A Ventures.
At the intersection of AI and sustainable technology, mobility takes center stage at VivaTech
The mobility sector showcases what can be achieved when technologies like AI intersect with such an important issue as sustainability in a business context. This year, this sector will have a prominent place at VivaTech, thanks in part to a first collaboration with Tesla, whose complete ecosystem will be showcased in an area dedicated to highlighting its mission to accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy. VivaTech is also proud to welcome Software République and its CEOs in a conversation at Stage One.
Other exclusives, innovations, and major announcements await us at VivaTech, particularly from Peugeot/Stellantis, aiming to become a European leader in electric vehicles by 2025 and presenting launches and exclusives like the “Inception” concept car and the disruptive technology “Hypersquare”; there will also be Fly-Box, a startup specializing in eco-friendly freight transport; as well as Airbus with its innovative air mobility solutions; and the ADP Group with Volocopter and its vision of the airport of the future.
“Viva Technology is an essential meeting place for business and technology, showcasing the best startups and leading companies from around the world. Innovation is on the rise, driven by AI, by the challenges of positive impact, and by entrepreneurs who are on the starting grid to seize all these decisive opportunities. To decipher these new trends and understand their impact on our economies but also on our societies, political systems, and our planet, VivaTech 2024 brings together the best in innovation and technology ecosystems for four days, as well as speakers and economic decision-makers from over 120 countries,” says François Bitouzet, CEO of VivaTech.
Announcement of the first keynote speakers
CEOs and leading business figures:
– Bernard Arnault, Chairman & CEO of LVMH Group; Nathalie Collin, Deputy Director of La Poste Groupe; Christelle Heydemann, CEO of Orange Group; Mohamed Kandé, US & Global Advisory Leader of PWC; Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X; Mitchell Baker, Chairwoman & CEO of Mozilla; Faye Iosotaluno, CEO of Tinder; Meredith Whitaker, CEO of Signal, Jonas Prising, CEO & Chairman of ManpowerGroup…
Speakers from the public sector:
– Thierry Breton, Commissioner of the European Commission for the Internal Market; Marina Ferrari, Secretary of State of France for Digital Economy; Charles Michel, President of the European Council…
Special guests
– John Kerry, former Secretary of State during the presidency of Barack Obama in the United States, former Climate Commissioner during the presidency of Joe Biden in the United States, and former United States Senator.
With a strong representation of leading French and international partners
Japan, Country of the Year at VivaTech
Co-organizers: Groupe Les Echos – Le Parisien & Publicis Groupe
Founding Partners: BNP Paribas, Google, La Poste Groupe, LVMH, Orange
Platinum Partners: Amazon, Department of Economy and Tourism of Dubai, PwC, ManpowerGroup
Gold Partners: EDF, Engie, EY, FreshWorks, French-German Tech Lab, Groupe Bouygues, Groupe SNCF, JCDecaux, India, KPMG, L’Oréal Groupe, Microsoft, Salesforce, Sanofi, Togg, TotalEnergies, Toyota Woven city
Silver Partners: ADP, Région Île de France, Airbus, Audi, Axa, Bpifrance, BYD, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Capgemini, CMA CGM, CNRS, Crédit Agricole, DocuSign, European Innovation Council, Huawei, Hyundai Motor and Kia (ZER01NE), Pavillon Numérique de l’Etat, IBM, Italian Trade Agency, LinkedIn, Korean Institute for Enterprise and Business Development, Medialink, Meta, Métropole du Grand Paris, Ministère des Armées, Aéroports de Paris, Peugeot – Stellantis, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Région Centre Val de Loire, Région Occitanie, Région Sud, Scaleway, Software République, Swisstech, Métropole Européenne de Lille, Pôle Métropolitain de l’Artois, Taïwan Tech Arena, United Robotics Group, Wallonia – Brussels, International Finance Corporation, the United Kingdom.