MONDAY 2026, FEBRUARY 2

9:00 - 18:00

HOTEL ARRIVAL & REGISTRATION  (more information on practical information page)

13:30 - 17:30

LEARNING EXPEDITIONS

Visit 1: Major Research infrastructures:  EMBL, ILL & ESRF 

This visit takes you to the heart of Grenoble’s European Photon & Neutron Science Campus, where the ESRF, EMBL, and ILL join forces. Together, they explore matter and life at the atomic scale through powerful X-rays, neutrons, and molecular biology research, making this site a global hub for science and innovation.

Visit 2: - Innovation Showcases:  CEA, GEM Labs, Schneider Electric

This visit highlights innovation and sustainability in action across three key sites in Grenoble. At GEM Labs, students, researchers, and professionals experiment with new ways of learning and working around themes like digital transformation and AI. The CEA showcases cutting-edge research in energy, health, and technology, turning scientific advances into real-world solutions. Finally, Schneider Electric’s IntenCity stands as a model of smart, energy-efficient design, illustrating the future of sustainable buildings and collaborative workspaces.

19:00 - 21:00

RECEPTION DINNER & NEWCOMERS INTRODUCTION

TUESDAY 2026, FEBRUARY 3

Maison MINATEC Congress center 

9:00 – 10:15

OPENING CEREMONY with officials  



10:20 -11:30

“Rules have changed, from uncertainty to unknown”

In a rapidly evolving world, where the boundaries of uncertainty are expanding into the truly unknown, navigating this shift has become a critical challenge. These keynotes will serve as a call to rethink assumptions, embrace complexity, and unlock new ways of thinking.

Keynote #1 – Geopolitical Vision
How shifting power dynamics and global tensions redefine our capacity to act and adapt in an unpredictable world.

Pierre-Joseph GIVRE | Lieutenant General (department of defense)

Keynote #2 – Scientific & Technological Vision
How breakthroughs at the frontiers of science and technology can help us navigate—and even harness—the unknown.

Keynote #3 – Economic Vision
How new paradigms of growth, value, and resilience emerge when uncertainty gives way to the truly unknown.

11:35 – 12:45

Session  1 "Dealing with unpredictable disruption: From research to supply chain building”
In a world where the pace of change is accelerating and disruptions may come at any time from unexpected natural, geopolitical, or economic challenges, traditional playbooks for research commercialization no longer apply.  This panel will examine the present-day challenges of taking new advanced technologies into the market, a process that usually requires modifications to supply chains or even building new ones. 

Bruno VILLETELLE | Venture Capital Partner, VU Venture, Switzerland

Claude LEGLISE | Co-Founder and Chairman | ClearSpot Holdings

Karine SAMUEL | Professeur, supply chain management & strategy, UGA, France

Kwang-Seong CHOI | Assistant Vice President, ETRI, Korea

Richard DASHER |  Professor and Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University, USA

Marie-Pierre IPPERSIEL | President and Chief Executive Officer at PRIMA Québec

12:45 – 14:20

Lunch Break & networking

14:20 – 14:50 

Fact Checking  # 1- AI 

Tech Shifts: Understanding Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs

This short-format session explores today’s most pressing technological disruptions on AI, Quantum and cybersecurity, and their potential to reshape our world. Inspired by fact-checking, each theme is addressed through myths and preconceived ideas, in order to separate fact from fiction 

Philippe WIEZCORECK | Director of Multidisciplinary Institute in Artificial IntelligenceI

14:50 – 16:00

Session 2 "Tech disruption & new normal"

Technology is no longer just an enabler — it’s a disruptor, reshaping industries, societies, and the very way we live and work. This panel will brings together innovation experts to unpack how emerging technologies are redefining what’s possible and what could be next. From AI to quantum computing, from digital platforms to new medtech, we’ll explore the breakthroughs driving transformation — and the challenges that come with them. 

Bart BECKS | serial innovator and entrepreneur, Belgium   

Daniel GHENO | Innovation & Technology Senior VP, Chief Technology Officer chez Schneider Electric 

Alan RENAUDIN | VP au développement des affaires, Technum Quebec 

16:00 – 17:25

Session 3 "Innovation tools in a world of great change"

Innovation doesn’t just happen — it’s powered by the right tools, methods, and mindsets. This session will introduce cutting-edge innovation tools designed to spark creativity, accelerate problem-solving, and drive real impact. These tools can help to move from idea to action more effectively. Each presentation will feature hands-on demonstrations, expert insights, and practical use cases that show how innovation is being reimagined across industries. They will also present frameworks that support collaboration, platforms that enhance ideation, and technologies that turn bold thinking into reality. 

Edward WOODS | Directeur R&D / Innovation / Venture Capital de Bouygues Construction

Masterclass and Workshop

Damien VALET | Innovation Impact Expert, CEA, France

Guillaume BUFFET | Motherbase president, France

Hélène MICHEL | Professor / Program Director of the MSc Innovation & Design Management

17:25 – 17:55

Fact Checking  # 2- Quantum

Tech Shifts: Understanding Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs

This short-format session explores today’s most pressing technological disruptions on AI, Quantum and cybersecurity, and their potential to reshape our world.

Salvatore CINA | Quantum Program Director, CEA , France

19:30 - 22:30 

Gala Dinner, cultural animation and networking

WEDNESDAY 2026, FEBRUARY 4

tech&fest | Alpexpo, Grenoble

This year, the HLF Summit joins Tech&Fest for a unique day of exchange and inspiration!

tech&fest brings together 20,000 innovators — researchers, entrepreneurs, students, and thought leaders — for a vibrant celebration of technology and creativity. In 2026, the festival’s theme, “Autonomy! The Spirit of Tech,” will put sovereignty at the heart of the conversation — rethinking our economic, industrial, energy, and digital independence. An immersive, festive experience where ideas flow, connections grow, and innovation meets impact. 

9:00 – 9:30

Welcome & Opening 

Julie GALLAND | Director of the Technological Research division at CEA, President of GIANT 

Christophe VICTOR | CEO of tech&fest

9:30 -12:00 

Learning expeditions in Tech&Fest

Discover the frontiers of innovation through guided thematic tours. Participants will explore cutting-edge technologies, meet the teams driving change, and gain unique insights into transformative projects, with exclusive opportunities to network with VIPs and CEOs.

Official photo with all the delegations on the main stage

12:00 - 13:30 

Lunch Break & Networking

13:30 - 14:00

Startup session and startup tour

14:00 - 15:20

Ecosystem pitch session: my Ecosystem in 180 Seconds

In just 180 seconds, innovation ecosystems take the stage to showcase their unique strengths, collaborations, and visions for the future. This fast-paced session highlights how regional, national, and international ecosystems are driving scientific excellence, technological innovation, and sustainable growth through creative partnerships and bold initiatives.

15:25 – 15:55 

Fact Checking # 3- Cybersecurity

Tech Shifts: Understanding Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs

This short-format session explores today’s most pressing technological disruptions on AI, Quantum and cybersecurity, and their potential to reshape our world.

Karine BANNELIER | Director of Grenoble Alpes Cybersecurity Institute 

15:55 – 17:05 

Session 4  “Collaborating for a more desirable and sovereign future

In a time of global challenges and rapid transformation, no single actor can shape the future alone. This panel brings together leading innovation experts to explore how cross-sector collaboration is key to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies. From startups to governments, from academia to industry, we’ll examine how diverse ecosystems can align around shared goals while preserving autonomy and sovereignty. 

Luc JULIA | Chief Scientific Officer, Renault

Christiane GEBHARDT | VP, Triple Helix, France

Janekrishna KANATHARANA| Deputy Director-General for Innovation and Sustainable Development, The Federation of Thai Industries

19:00 - 21:30

tech&fest Gala Dinner