France hosts our EmTech conference for the first time

For the first time, France hosted one of our emerging technologies conference, EmTech. In conjunction with MIT Technology Review, we turned Toulouse into the European epicenter of cutting-edge technologies during this two day event. Close to 500 people from nine different countries of origin responded to our call and helped make this event a success.

Artificial intelligence, robotics, smart cities and biotechnology were the primary themes of the conference, which took place at the former University Quai des Savoirs on December 15^th and 16^th. Speakers at the event included the president of our global partner, MIT Technology Review, Kathleen Kennedy; the CEO of Snips and a Global Innovator Under 35, Rand Hinidi; and the Innovator Under 35 France 2015 and the CEO of Eligo Bioscience, Xavier Duportet.

As per our previous experience with EmTech Ecuador and Brazil, the objective of the conference was not limited to showcasing the latest advances, but also included  discussion and debate over the problems of the future and ideas for solutions to these problems. Conscious of the fact that innovation is not an isolated event but rather a constant dynamic, we took this opportunity to announce the next edition of the Innovators Under 35 France competition.

Along with the conferences and demonstration of the most disruptive technologies, we organized a Venture Point competition with the support of La French Tech, a French organization dedicated to the promotion of start-ups both domestically and internationally. Thanks to this encounter, nine newly founded companies selected from over 85 candidates won the opportunity to present their projects to 25 investors. Also, in contrast with other investment forums, we completed the experience with a lunch event in which researchers, speakers and investors were divided into teams, one per start-up.

Our success with this event was possible thanks to the collaboration of So Toulouse Convention Bureau, Touluse Métropole, Région Midi-Pyrenées and our innovation partner Deloitte. Thanks to this team, Toulouse – the current European capital of aeronautics and the future European City of Science in 2018 – became the meeting point for the most advanced technologies, the most promising companies and the most relevant experts. Our experience with the French innovation ecosystem after three editions of the Innovators Under 35 France awards led us to choose Toulouse to host this event.

"EmTech France was the only European edition of MIT Technology Review's conferences in 2015. During these two days we discovered the new tendencies within the world of technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, smart cities and biotechnology. The primary objective was to demonstrate that irrespective of the problem at hand, the solution always involves technology", as our CEO and the international partner of MIT Technology Review, Pedro Moneo, explained.