The symposium of the Paris based, Societe pour l’Encouragement de l’Industrie Nationale (SEIN) , “France–U.S. Cross Perspectives: How to Learn and Innovate Together in a New Industrial Context,” brought together over twenty expert speakers to analyze how recent American policy inflections are reshaping the transatlantic balance—and to understand the contours of a new industrial paradigm emerging in the United States.
From sweeping tariffs and environmental rollback to massive innovation subsidies—especially in artificial intelligence—the U.S. is moving decisively, often straining traditional commercial ties. Meanwhile, Europe, despite its strong industrial base, continues to lose ground. With foreign investment in the U.S. doubling over the past decade and more than 4,000 European subsidiaries now operating on American soil, the urgency for coordinated strategic response is clear.
The symposium made one thing undeniable: in this new global context, only through shared understanding and innovation can Europe and the U.S. tackle the challenges—and opportunities—ahead.
As the global industrial landscape undergoes rapid transformation, innovation and reindustrialization have become critical priorities for both Europe and the United States. At a time when digitalization, automation, and the reshaping of supply chains are redefining competitiveness, Yannick Schilly, CEO of ALTIX Consulting, shared his insights on the strategic imperatives driving industrial renewal and international collaboration.
Schilly emphasized that reindustrialization hinges on our ability to work collaboratively across nations to address a complex equation of interconnected factors. Future competitiveness, he argued, will depend largely on the strength of global strategic alliances. He underscored that innovation is intrinsically linked to industry and know-how—particularly in the era of Industry 4.0, where digitalization and artificial intelligence have become essential levers. Reindustrialization, he stressed, demands a multidimensional and collective approach that integrates automation, ESG principles, workforce development, and robust transatlantic cooperation. For Europe, the time to act is now—to transform today’s disruption into tomorrow’s industrial and technological leadership.
