The French Minister for Digital and AI has called for renewed international collaboration in the rapidly evolving field of technology.
Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week, Clara Chappaz noted how France is positioning itself as a key player by fostering a robust ecosystem designed to cultivate innovation – but added that industry players around the world needed to work together to achieve progress.
“We need to work collectively. We need to bring everyone in the world to try and solve some of the hardest problems,” she said.
“We stay very attached to multilateralism, making sure we can gather everyone here in Paris,” Chappaz added.
France supports cutting-edge research, ensuring the necessary infrastructure, and implementing policies that facilitate growth, according to Chappaz who noted the role of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MICA) regulation in providing certainty for innovators wanting to operate in the European Union.
“MICA has created a framework that offers clarity and certainty, which is crucial for fostering innovation,” she said. “When innovators know the rules and boundaries, they can focus on creating and advancing technology without the fear of regulatory ambiguity.”
Chappaz also emphasised the need for collaboration across borders to tackle the challenges and opportunities presented by evolving technology. “We are engaging with other nations to align on safety standards and best practices,” she noted. “International collaboration is key to navigating the waves of change effectively and responsibly.”
Initiatives like La French Tech Mission continue to support startups and entrepreneurs. These aim to build bridges between Europe and other regions, particularly Asia, to explore new opportunities and markets.
“Our support for startups is unwavering,” Chappaz said. “We believe that nurturing young companies is vital for the continuous flow of innovation.”
She underscored the importance of demonstrating practical use cases to show how technology can solve real-world problems to achieve widespread adoption.
“It’s crucial to make this technology as simple to understand as possible and to explain to the wider audience how it can address specific issues,” she said. “By showcasing concrete examples of AI and blockchain applications, we can build trust and interest among the public.”
The minster also addressed the importance of gender diversity in the sector.
“We cannot afford to just innovate with like-minded people, same gender, same education,” she said, noting that France is working to address gender diversity “from the ground up”, starting with young girls in education.
The objective is 20,000 girls by 2030, helping them go for studies in mathematics and technology, Chappaz said. “It’s essential that we create an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the advancements in AI.”
