Lyon, March 6 – The second edition of Engineering Day, organized by the Lyon-Saint-Étienne Engineering College, will take place on March 23, 2026, at the Auditorium de Lyon. The event aims to highlight the pivotal role of engineers in addressing major industrial, climate, and digital challenges, bringing together academic experts, business leaders, and institutional stakeholders.
A Forum to Discuss the Engineer’s Role in Transitions
The second edition of Engineering Day is scheduled for March 23, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, at the Auditorium de Lyon, located on Rue Garibaldi in the 3rd arrondissement. Organized by the Lyon-Saint-Étienne Engineering College, this day seeks to contextualize the concrete role of engineering in industrial, environmental, and digital transformations.
Open to the public and free of charge, the event is designed as a dialogue platform among science, technology, and society. Discussions will particularly focus on understanding how engineers contribute to the evolution of territories and businesses, and how their skills can support ongoing transitions.
Roundtable Discussions with Industry Leaders
The day will feature roundtable discussions with participants from academic, industrial, and institutional backgrounds. Several prominent leaders are expected to attend, including:
- Laurence Borie-Bancel, CEO of CNRE
- Elvire Charre, Director of Centrale du Bugey
- Carole Desnost, Director of Technologies, Innovation, and Projects at SNCF Group
- Michel Kahan, President of Syntec-Ingénierie
- Axelle Lemaire, Director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Development at Sopra Steria and former Secretary of State for Digital Affairs and Innovation
- Laurent Morel, Partner at Carbone 4
- Xavier Piechaczyk, Chairman and CEO of RATP Group
Writer and director Cyril Dion will also participate as a key witness for the day.
Carbon Neutrality, Resources, and Artificial Intelligence at the Core of Debates
The discussions, introduced by research professors, will address several issues related to economic and technological transformations. Key themes include:
- The actual capacity to achieve carbon neutrality within the current economic and geopolitical context
- The management of resource scarcity, particularly water, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- The responsibilities and limitations of engineers in the face of generative artificial intelligence development
- The ability of engineers to evolve corporate practices in terms of social responsibility
The event also aims to encourage scientific vocations and promote the diversity of engineering career paths, while highlighting the role of women in scientific and technical fields.
An Alliance of Engineering Schools Focused on Transitions
Established in November 2022, the Lyon-Saint-Étienne Engineering College brings together four major schools: Centrale Lyon, ENTPE, INSA Lyon, and Mines Saint-Étienne.
This alliance seeks to develop joint initiatives in training, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and scientific mediation. The college’s work is centered around three major societal challenges: decarbonized industry and society, circular economy, and responsible digital society.
With this second edition of Engineering Day, the organization aims to continue the reflection on the place of engineers in industrial and societal transformations.
Source: lyon-entreprises.com
