Draft ~ Agenda
Texas-Europe Business Summit 2026
Access to Trade, Investment & Innovation
| 8:30am | Breakfast & Conference Registration |
| 9:00am | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 9:10am | Education Exchanges Panel |
| Bridging the Talent Gap: Aligning Higher Education with Transatlantic Workforce Needs As Texas, Europe, and Quebec compete for investment in advanced manufacturing, AI, energy, semiconductors, and life sciences, the defining differentiator is talent. This panel convenes leaders from higher education, industry, and economic development to explore how universities and employers can more tightly align education with evolving workforce demands across the transatlantic economy. Panelists will examine innovative models such as co-designed curricula, embedded internships and apprenticeships, credentialing, and cross-border research partnerships that accelerate workforce readiness. The discussion will also address how Texas is leveraging university–industry ecosystems to attract European and Quebecois investment and how global collaboration can strengthen long-term competitiveness. Attendees will leave with practical insights on building durable pipelines that meet both employer needs and student aspirations in a rapidly changing global economy. |
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| 10:05am | Remarks by Mr. Steven Jast, Head of Québec Government Office in Houston, TX |
| 10:25am | Transportation Panel: Connecting Texas and Europe via Québec |
| 11:00am | Innovation Trends in Europe: Aerospace |
| 12:20pm | Lunch with Keynote by Director, Dr. Michael Mosser |
| Europe at the Crossroads: What Now (and What Next)? In 2026, Europe finds itself at one of the most pivotal moments in recent memory. While conflict continues to rage on the continent itself, the EU and its associated Member and partner states face myriad other challenges at home and abroad. It must find a way to help bring the war in Ukraine to an end, as well as keep the war in Iran from expanding into an uncontrollable morass. It must determine how to accommodate a resurgent America dedicated to reshaping the world according to its particular vision. Finally, it must figure out how to preserve democracy at home and avoid the democratic backsliding that threatens to undermine the Union from within, all while attempting to re-start European economic growth and re-establish the continent as a viable counterpoint to pure power geopolitics and geoeconomics. Join Dr. Mosser in what promises to be a stimulating conversation of these and other challenges facing Europe in 2026 and beyond. |
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| 2:00pm | Speaker Tyler Johnson, Limited Partner/Venture Partner Stony Lonesome Group |
| 2:35pm | Life Science Diplomacy: Opportunities, Operations, and Resilience amid Transatlantic Shifts |
| Science has long been a productive bilateral bridge. But in an era of fragmented policy, rising trust thresholds, and global coordination shifts, scientific collaboration must adapt. This session will discuss how life sciences can serve as a stabilizing force across allies, how industry becomes the gear that turns research into deployable capacity, and why emerging collaborations are critical to our joint future economic and health resilience. | |
| 3:35pm | Innovation, Energy & Talent Bridges from Central Europe to Texas |
| Featuring all four Visegrad countries – Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland – with short introductions by their trade representatives, followed by a substantive discussion of: • Current macroeconomic trends and investment climate • Energy security and energy trends • Innovation, technology, and talent mobility between Texas and Central Europe |
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| 4:25pm | Closing remarks |
| 4:30pm | Reception |
