The Aix-en-Provence Economic Forum 2025: Three days of open and insightful debate

The only major economic forum in Europe that is both free and open to the public, the 2025 edition of the Aix-en-Provence Economic Forum brought together business leaders, researchers, government officials, trade unions, international organizations, and NGOs from July 3 to 5 to discuss today’s most pressing economic, political, and social challenges.

More than 380 speakers addressed an audience of 7,000 participants, sharing ideas and exploring potential solutions to the defining issues of our time.

Benoît Darde, Partner at Wavestone, spoke on July 3 as part of the panel “The Illusion of Salvation Through Technology.” In his intervention, he emphasized the limits of technological progress in the face of environmental challenges—while also expressing a strong conviction: betting on growth and innovation remains both rational and realistic when it comes to tackling the climate crisis. Rather than being at odds, technological innovation and sustainable growth now work hand in hand to accelerate the ecological transition.

Benoît Darde also highlighted a positive momentum in Europe: regulations like the CSRD and carbon footprint reduction frameworks have helped structure sustainability efforts and drive more responsible behaviors. More importantly, Europe has realized it cannot rely solely on foreign technologies to succeed in its green transition—it must invest in and develop its own solutions.

By fostering homegrown deeptech and greentech innovation, Europe has the potential to create high-impact breakthroughs that can scale globally—positioning the continent as a frontrunner in the race to sustainability.