This event aims to promote and develop French-Swedish business relations, investments, and impact collaborations for an extended growth and the strengthening of European competitiveness. In a time of rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and accelerating climate transition, innovation has become a strategic priority for Europe.

Date: Monday 12^th of October 2026
Time: 13.00 - 18.30
Venue: Grand Hôtel Stockholm, conference room Studio Stockholm

Södra Blasieholmshamnen 8

The Forum offers a high-level conference with discussions and concrete examples of strategic cooperation from a European perspective, against the backdrop of important insights into the Chinese innovation and competition landscape. The conference will be followed by a Tech & Innovation exhibition, designed to advance dialogue between France and Sweden, inspire and contribute to shaping the next generation of European innovation and collaborations.

13.00 Registration

Moderator: Katarina Tracz

13.30 Welcome remarks by Gîta Paterson, President, Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France

Opening remarks by H.E. Thierry Carlier, Ambassador of France to Sweden

Keynote: Christan Danielsson, State Secretary to Minister for EU Affairs

Keynote: Anna Stellinger, Deputy Director General, Confederation of Swedish Entreprise

Panel I Resilience, Security and Transition: A French-Swedish Perspective for Europe

Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels and imported critical materials is increasingly being recognised as a strategic vulnerability. In a world shaped by geopolitical tensions, vulnerable supply chains, and climate change, the green transition is no longer only a climate issue, it is also a question of resilience, competitiveness, and security. Renewable energy and local production are not only climate issues, but also essential for keeping societies, industries and security operations functioning during disruptions.

This part of the conference will explore how France and Sweden can strengthen Europe’s capacity for industrial resilience, innovation and cooperation in areas such as fossil-free energy, critical materials, defence and forestry. The discussions will highlight how sustainability and security can reinforce one another in building a stronger and more resilient Europe.

Part 1: Strategic Industries in a Changing World
Defence, energy and critical materials

Panel introductory keynote : Peter Ling-Vannerus, Senior advisor SEB & Former Chief Representative China, SEB

Panel:

Pierre-Etienne Franc, Co-founder & CEO, Hy24, Co-founder & Chairman, FiveT Hydrogen, Board member, Stegra

Robin Hughes, Strategic Innovation & Technology Director, Saab

Peter Ling-Vannerus, Senior advisor SEB & Former Chief Representative China, SEB

Jakob Rutqvist, Group Vice President of Strategy and M&A, Epiroc

Part 2 : From Forest to Future – Sustainable Substitution
Forestry, biomaterials and the bioeconomy

Panel moderator: Göran Ericsson, Dean at the Faculty of Forest Sciences, professor at the Department of Environmental studies, SLU – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Panel introductory keynote: Mark Irle, Research Coordinator, Institute Technologique FCBA

Panel:

Tomas Alsmarker, Associated to the SLU platform of bioeconomy and co-chair of the French-Swedish working group on forest product innovation

Mark Irle, Research Coordinator, Institute Technologique FCBA

Eva Malmström, Professor, Director, Wallenberg Wood Science Center

15:30 Coffeebreak

Panel II AI, Technology Development and Industrial Scale-Up: The Next French-Swedish Innovation Frontier

This panel will explore how Europe can compete globally in AI and breakthrough technologies, and how it can strengthen its technological and industrial position in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Future-oriented and more technology-driven, the discussion will connect technology, start-ups, research and industrial collaboration between France and Sweden, with a particular focus on AI, cybersecurity, data infrastructure, green technologies and industrial scale-up. Rather than addressing general innovation policy, the panel will focus on how Europe can turn innovation into industrial capacity, market leadership and strategic resilience. Key issues: Critical digital infrastructure, European cloud and AI capacity, the scaling of frontier start-ups, access to long-term capital, strategic public procurement, EU regulatory frameworks, and the balance between openness, competitiveness and sovereignty.

Panel:

Emmanuel Brochard, Director of International R&D Cooperations for the Technical Division, Naval Group France

Eric Eppe, Cheif Technology Officer, Bull

Loïc Mougeolle, Co Founder & CEO, Comand AI

Helene Niklasson, Head of Innovation Ecosystems and Partnerships & Head of CampX, Volvo Group

Laetitia Prot, Head of Datacenter Development, Europe NEOEN

Closing remarks by S.E. Caroline Vicini, Ambassador of Sweden to France

Networking cocktail and Tech & Innovation exhibition with partners and startups

18:30 End