Big, the largest business gathering in Europe organized by Bpifrance returns on October 6, 2022 to bring together entrepreneurs, politicians, artists, athletes or students under the sign of “metamorphosis”.
Always bigger, always stronger: if the 7e edition of Big had welcomed 62,000 visitors to the Accor Arena Paris, it returns in 2022 with a hybrid event, in physical and digital. On the program: 1,000 speakers and a hundred top speakers and personalities from the economic world who made the news in 2022, 500 workshops and conferences broadcast live, in audio and video, followed by more than 20 million people.
Innovation in all its forms
The Big event was born under the impetus of Bpifrance (public investment bank) around the reflection of the foundation of innovation, its growth, its sharing for the common good. If, at the very beginning, the approach was very centered on technology, in line with le plan Deeptech launched by Bpifrance in 2019, the event opened up to more cross-cutting themes in a world that is changing in depth: products and services, process and organization, marketing, business model, social impact. Each subject feeding on each other.
« From the first Big, 8 years ago, we were surprised by the enthusiasm it aroused, which is certainly explained by our society’s need for innovation, which is not the prerogative of large companies or start-ups “recalls Paul-François Fournier, Executive Director of Innovation at Bpifrance.
The necessary metamorphosis
This year’s theme, metamorphosismetamorphosis, it is that of innovation, of business and more broadly of today’s world which needs to reinvent itself more than ever to face the challenges of our time. The successive crises that accumulate paradoxically offer opportunities for transformation to renew the economic and industrial fabric of the country, especially with the France 2030 plan and its 50 billion euros invested. ” The mentality is also changing because, before, we had the capacities but we did not necessarily succeed, now we are going to do it, we must and can », points out Paul-François Fournier. The metamorphosis is also individual, because each participant benefits from a energyenergy collective et constructive, « we never come out of it exactly as we came… ».
Strong moments for a collective momentum
On the big stage of the Big, there will thus follow one another a rather prodigious diversity of speakers, between ministers, artists, sportsmen, business leaders of the CAC40, bosses of start-ups or even inspiring people. ” It is difficult to name them all but, between Xavier NielXavier Niel who has accompanied us since the first edition, Yann Arthus-BertrandYann Arthus-BertrandCarlos Tavares, Lucie Basch, co-founder and president of Too Good To Go, Alexandre Mérieux, the chairman and CEO of the BioMérieux group or even representatives of Greentech, it promises some great momentscontinues Paul-François Fournier. This is also one of the strengths of the event: breaking down silos to bring together all the players who matter in France and create a élanélan collective ».
Widen your field of vision
More than 500 workshops and conferences will also be offered around topics that will shape tomorrow’s innovation, such as the metaverse,hydrogenhydrogenthe future of nuclear power…” Besides, if I have any advice to give, in addition to above all not missing the event that is likely to change you, it is to both prepare it well in advance to find the content that interests you, but also not to hesitate to let yourself be surprised, because that’s also Big, impromptu encounters that allow you to broaden your field of vision and take a step back concludes Paul-François Fournier.
Article produced in partnership with the BPI
