In this opinion piece, Sir Thomas Drew, UK Ambassador to France, highlights the major advantages of his home country for French entrepreneurs wishing to set up business across the Channel.

The United Kingdom has set ambitious goals in the life sciences sector to become Europe’s leading hub by 2030 and the world’s third-largest life sciences economy by 2035. With a mature ecosystem, access to rare talent, and a natural partnership between entrepreneurship and fundamental research, the country has many assets to achieve this ambition. Maximilien Levesque, co-founder of Aqemia, and Simon Turner, partner at Sofinnova Partners, share their perspectives with Maddyness.

In the face of decarbonisation, safety and productivity challenges, construction and infrastructure start-ups are changing their business models. Less focused on all-digital solutions and more industrial, firmly rooted in on-the-ground realities, they embody a new era of innovation. Leonard, VINCI Group’s innovation and foresight platform, is supporting this transformation. Ahead of the Launch Day on 14 January, its Director of Entrepreneurial Innovation, Kevin Cardona, analyses the changes reshaping the sector and the technologies already at work.