VivaTech: the Fashion Week of Global Tech

MF: How are you feeling in the run-up to this year's 10th edition? Will there be a special atmosphere?

FB: I’m a little nervous, and I must admit, a bit stressed too, but most of all I’m very excited and enthusiastic about being able to show the world what we’ve been working on for more than two years. More than just a tenth anniversary, this edition marks a real turning point as VivaTech takes on a whole new dimension. We’ll be at Porte de Versailles again, but the surface area will be increased from 55,000 to more than 70,000 m². It’s bigger, with more business, more inspiration, more networking. We want to take VivaTech to the next level.

MF: When it launched in 2016, VivaTech attracted 45,000 visitors. Ten years on, the number of visitors has increased four-fold. How do you explain this evolution?

FB: What’s exciting for the teams is seeing that VivaTech’s value proposition in June 2016 is the same as in 2026, and it continues to gain in utility and value. The premise of this proposition is that in the tech sector there are people who bring innovation, solutions, and products to the table. Opposite, there are operators, large firms, small and medium-sized businesses, and public institutions that need this innovation to drive transformation. VivaTech, which is held over four days each year, provides an opportunity for people to come together to find inspiration, discover new ideas and do business. Ten years ago, it was the beginning of the digital transformation with start-ups. Today, it’s artificial intelligence. Ultimately, everything has changed and nothing has changed. What we offer over these four days remains essential for the 44% of visitors who are corporate decision-makers from around the world.

MF: VivaTech is taking place in Paris, a destination that ‘Paris, je t’aime’ promotes as one of the world’s leading event destinations. How did the city contribute to the event’s success?

FB: VivaTech owes a lot to Paris, and a lot to the Paris region. We transform Paris into a global capital of tech and innovation during these four days, but we’re able to do so because of the city’s worldwide appeal. Hosting an event in this incredible setting, known to everyone, is a definite plus. When we tell people from Japan, Brazil, South Africa, or the Middle East that they’ll be coming to Paris in June, that also counts toward their motivation. We also have Paris to thank for its extraordinary infrastructure, which enables us to organize VivaTech in conditions of remarkable comfort and professionalism. And there is a ‘French school of event management’, incredible talent, and a diversity across the entire value chain that you simply don’t find in many other countries and cities. We are delighted, on this tenth anniversary, to be able to show our gratitude to Paris. In general, visitors spend two days at VivaTech and one day visiting the tech ecosystem in Paris: Station F, the Paris Santé Campus, Saclay. That's part of the flow of international visitors who come to Paris for VivaTech and take the opportunity to explore the Paris tech scene.

MF: Last year, AI was the star of the event. What impact does VivaTech have on Paris’s reputation as a hub of innovation, particularly within these fields?

FB: In terms of artificial intelligence, VivaTech plays two roles. Firstly, it highlights Paris’s leadership in this field, with companies like Mistral and Dust. It also acts as a catalyst. When Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, decided last year to deliver his only keynote speech in Europe at VivaTech, it was because he wanted to speak in Paris. He wanted to speak in Paris because it’s the AI capital of Europe and the world. During VivaTech, we’re committed to putting French AI at the top of the podium. And let me tell you that it’s quite easy because it deserves it, and the whole world envies us for that.

MF: Other trade fairs are in competition with it: the CES at Las Vegas, the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. How do you position yourselves?

FB: We don’t see ourselves as rivals because we do different things. CES is exclusively for consumers. The Mobile World Congress is solely for the telecoms sector. VivaTech accounts for more than 30 economic sectors, ranging from defence and luxury goods to energy, the automotive industry and banking. We wanted to complement each other, not be competitors. What we’ve managed to achieve is that tech and innovation decision-makers now have on their calendar the CES in Las Vegas for B2C and VivaTech in June for B2B. It’s definitely one of the event’s successes. And we network with other events around the world, because driving tech and innovation means working together.

MF: Today, Paris je t’aime - Convention Bureau assists hundreds of international event planners. Have you noticed an increase in Paris's attractiveness on the international stage?

FB: Yes, it’s very clear. There have been several developments. Brexit definitely gave Paris its status as a major European institutional capital. The Olympic Games then acted as an incredible catalyst for raising the city’s profile, generating enthusiasm and improving the quality of its facilities. What Paris has done, what the region has done, is absolutely amazing, and this has been recognized internationally. Today, hosting an event in Paris is a mark of distinction: it automatically catches the interest of people who are involved in the events industry. And with all the current geopolitical issues – what is happening in the United States and China, and issues of sovereignty – the European question is once again of central importance. Paris has always been a high-profile destination, and all these seismic shifts are further enhancing its international appeal.

MF: LVMH has been a partner of VivaTech since its first edition. How do luxury brands position themselves on the tech scene?

FB: They are always a step ahead. Paradoxically, the luxury industry has been built on its ability to innovate. Luxury is often thought of as something rooted in tradition and craftsmanship, which is true, but above all, luxury is about being able to do something that no one else can do yet. This is where there is a powerful connection with innovation. People love to come to VivaTech for that. The luxury sector’s strong presence enables them to see in advance what the industry does best – insights that then feed into the rest of the economy. Those who hang around the LVMH stand are automobile manufacturers, because they take a close look at the innovations tested by the luxury sector so that they can then adopt them. VivaTech’s aim is to spread innovation. And it works.

MF: What is the impact of VivaTech on the economy of Paris and the Paris region?

FB: In terms of our environmental impact, we hope to keep it to a minimum. We are the only event of this scale in the world to have ISO 20121 certification. A lot of work goes into reusing sets and materials, recycling, and donating to charities. As for the economic impact, we hope it will be as wide-reaching as possible across the entire business tourism sector: transport, restaurants and hotels. It’s something we’ve never managed to measure precisely. But what I can tell you is that when VivaTech arrives, finding a hotel with availability in Paris becomes extremely difficult. We contribute to the vitality of this sector, which is extremely important and useful for Paris and the surrounding region.

MF: And if we could fast forward ten years, how do you envisage VivaTech in 2036?

FB: What I would like people to say about VivaTech in ten years is that it is to Tech, what Paris Fashion Week is to Paris worldwide. We owe a lot to Paris je t’aime and the Paris region. And we are also going to showcase Paris and its region. We’re delighted to show the richness of Paris’s tech ecosystem and French innovation to the whole world.

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