WEDC has signed an agreement with a French economic development agency aimed at boosting collaboration on shared key sectors, including manufacturing, energy, health sciences, agriculture and food.
Gov. Tony Evers yesterday announced the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has joined a memorandum of understanding with the Agence Économique Régionale of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of northeastern France.
The MOU aims to “promote closer economic and educational relations” between the two government agencies, the guv’s office says, noting its focus on helping local businesses grow and exchanging expertise between Wisconsin and the BFC region.
Evers calls the expanded partnership “a big step forward toward ensuring the continued growth, expansion and certainty” for companies and regional economies. His statement on the MOU highlights global trade uncertainties and “chaos” in Washington.
“I’m proud of my administration’s efforts to develop and maintain partnerships and friendships with international partners that will continue to pay dividends for Wisconsin’s future economic success for future generations, and this partnership is proof of that good work,” the guv said in the announcement.
Leaders of WEDC and Evers previously visited the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in 2025 during a trade mission hitting parts of France and Germany.
Following the visit, the French regional agency established a formal relationship with Madison’s BioForward on biotherapies, and AER BFC President Arnaud Marthey says Evers’ visit last year was just a starting point.
“This MOU gives us the same kind of framework” for key sectors, Marthey said in a statement.
Meanwhile, BFC President Jérôme Durain says he plans to lead a delegation to Wisconsin and Chicago in October.
“I want us to leave with actual projects on the table, starting with biotherapies and agri-food,” he said in the release.
The MOU notes four priority areas for collaboration between the BFC region and Wisconsin: agri-food, energy, advanced manufacturing, and biotherapies and health sciences.
The guv’s office says they are “natural partners” based on both having a strong manufacturing base, a well-known food and ag sector and research universities, as well as putting a greater focus on biohealth and energy.
