As technological innovation becomes a key driver of national power, governments are increasingly challenged to balance openness to investment with the need to protect critical infrastructure, intellectual property, and strategic industries. This tension is particularly acute in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology, where investments often involve not only capital but also access to sensitive data, patents, and human capital. Regulatory systems must adapt quickly to evolving risks while offering clarity and predictability to investors.

France stands out in the current global climate by actively promoting itself as a destination for foreign investment in emerging technologies. The recent AI Action Summit in Paris showcased the government’s ambition to position the country as a hub for global AI development, even as it maintains strict screening of defence-related and dual-use technologies. This effort to attract investment, particularly from U.S firms, comes amid broader tensions in transatlantic relations, with diplomatic strains - such as recent animosities between the U.S and France over trade policy - highlighting the geopolitical complexity of FDI governance.

While many nations, including the U.S through CFIUS and EU members under the FDI Screening Regulation, are reinforcing barriers to foreign control of key tech assets, France’s approach illustrates a nuanced strategy: one that seeks to reconcile strategic autonomy with global competitiveness. This workshop brings together experts from law, policy, and industry to explore how screening mechanisms can evolve to safeguard national interests while fostering innovation and international collaboration in the face of fragmented supply chains and rising global rivalries.