France Atlanta: The Renewable Energy and Workforce Development Series

In December 2010 the French Consul General in Atlanta launched an exciting series of conferences in Atlanta with a focus on business, research & development, humanitarian aid and culture. During a visit with the Foreign Ministry in Paris in early 2010, Consul General Pascal LeDeunff was struck by the broad lack of knowledge of Georgia and the southeastern U.S. by French business, trade and political authorities.  LeDeunff returned to Atlanta, consulted his contacts from business and academia and invited Atlanta to connect with France in a meaningful series of conferences with a focus on themes of mutual interest. 
Le Deunff envisioned researchers from the CDC sharing the stage with researchers from the Institut Pasteur. Executives from EDF and Areva sitting down with those from GE Energy and Suniva. Emory and Georgia Tech professors discussing international partnerships with colleagues from Metz and Toulouse. Cardiac surgeons from France comparing best practices with Saint Joseph's best surgeons.
 
Nissan even brought its new electric vehicle, the Leaf, for test drives.
 
The 18 events organized over a 10-day period attracted more than 2500 participants from across the U.S. and France. Consul General LeDeunff expressed great satisfaction with the enthusiastic response to the France-Atlanta events, and suggested that he would like to see another series in 2011.
 
Watch this short video from the France-Atlanta series as Anthony Maiello of GE speaks on business opportunities for American companies in the sustainable energies space.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiZrRr_Uphg