The Entretiens Jacques Cartier strengthen cooperation between Lyon and Québec
For 39 years, the Entretiens Jacques Cartier have been a key annual event bringing together the ecosystems of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Québec around science, business, and talent. The Lyon region plays a major role in this dynamic, thanks to the strong involvement of its business, scientific, academic, and institutional stakeholders.
Entretiens Jacques Cartier 2026: a francophone gathering connecting Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Québec
The 2026 edition to be held in Québec from November 9 to 11
From November 9 to 11, 2026, the Entretiens Jacques Cartier will bring together more than 2,000 participants from France and Québec. Held annually, alternating between Québec and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the event brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, elected officials, and civil society stakeholders to address major contemporary challenges.
This year’s theme, “Freedom, Responsibility, Sovereignty: Challenges for Innovating Together,” reflects the ambition to foster knowledge sharing and spark new collaborations between the two regions.
A program focused on innovation, research, business, and society
The 2026 program features 26 symposiums and conferences organized around four main themes: health and life sciences, innovation and emerging technologies, economic and environmental challenges, and culture and society. Sector-specific meetings and the first Transatlantic Economic Forum will round out the program.
Digital health and artificial intelligence, urban logistics, digital technologies, mobility, and social innovation are among the many topics on the agenda. These themes reflect several of the Lyon region’s key sectors of excellence, where companies, research laboratories, and higher education institutions contribute to developing innovative solutions.
The Entretiens Jacques Cartier: a platform for raising the Lyon ecosystem’s international profile
Strengthening ties between the Lyon and Montréal ecosystems
For the Lyon Metropole, these international exchanges help open up its ecosystem and strengthen its connections with international business, scientific, and institutional networks.
On November 10, a special gathering will bring together ONLYLYON Ambassadors in Montréal to strengthen ties between the Lyon and Montréal ecosystems. Entrepreneurs will share their experiences and perspectives on creativity, attractiveness, and business development opportunities between the two metropolitan areas.
The event will continue with a reception at Montréal City Hall, attended by Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montréal, and Véronique Sarselli, President of the Métropole de Lyon. Organized in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal and ONLYLYON, the evening will also showcase the culinary expertise of both regions.
Strengthening Lyon’s international attractiveness among francophone decision-makers
Alongside the Entretiens Jacques Cartier, 17 meetings with Québec-based companies and competitiveness clusters will provide opportunities to identify new avenues for economic cooperation and strengthen relationships between stakeholders from Lyon and Québec.
Through its involvement alongside its partners, ONLYLYON Invest helps showcase the region’s economic strengths to international decision-makers and build new bridges with their networks. This approach is fully aligned with its business networking and promotional initiatives aimed at supporting the growth and long-term presence of companies in the Lyon region.