Placed under the theme of "Nuclear excellence: a new era", the WNE show closed its doors on June 28, 2018 at Villepinte. Two highlights characterize this third edition: growing internationalization and a favorable business climate with numerous contracts and partnerships signed.
In three editions, WNE has established itself as the major meeting place for the global nuclear community, combining exhibitions, business opportunities and the showcasing of innovations with the WNE Awards, round tables, the Start-Up Planet, guided tours, lunchtime debates and business meetings.
The 680 exhibitors, including 40 % from abroad, had the opportunity to meet 9,119 visitors (21,407 attendees) from 62 countries, with a significant increase in international attendance (+20 %).
"Business first", WNE delivers on its promise to bring together players from the global community, as demonstrated by the number of partnership/cooperation agreements signed, and by the major announcements, such as the creation of the Groupement des industriels français de l'énergie nucléaire (GIFEN), which also marked this year's event.
" Feedback from members of the nuclear community is unanimous: they all praise the new venue, the arena format of the exhibitor workshops, the opportunity to interact with panelists, the "all-in-one" guided tours, the lunchtime debates and, above all, the constantly evolving networking and business. And that's exactly WNE's DNA: business. Business at international level, business through partnerships, business through innovation. "says Gérard Kottmann, President of WNE and Aifen.
At the opening ceremony, Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy and Finance, emphasized the importance of the nuclear industry for France, its economy and its industrial future.
The nuclear industry, with its great champions, is the third largest industrial sector in France, with 220,000 direct jobs, and for the Minister, France must continue to invest in this sector in order to maintain its world leadership in terms of skills and technologies. He also called for a balance between renewable energies and nuclear power, and added " have no doubt: nuclear power will remain essential in the long term for the competitiveness and energy independence of the French nation.".
On the strength of this success, WNE is already preparing its fourth edition, scheduled for June 23-25, 2020 at Paris Nord Villepinte.
Learn more: www.world-nuclear-exhibition.com/fr/