How Patrick Torrekens and Enterprise Ireland Are Powering Irish Innovation in France

As Head of Enterprise Ireland in France, Patrick Torrekens is at the forefront of fostering trade and innovation between Ireland and one of its most important European partners. With over 15 years of experience helping Irish companies navigate international markets, Patrick brings deep knowledge of cross-border collaboration — and a unique perspective on how Celtic nations can unlock shared opportunity through trusted relationships.

We caught up with Patrick ahead of his return to the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient to talk about Ireland’s evolving relationship with France, emerging sectors for growth, and why connection still matters in an increasingly global economy.

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Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Enterprise Ireland?

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I joined Enterprise Ireland team 15 years ago following a marketing and business development career in the ICT sector with companies like BT, Orange, SD Worx and startups active in speech technology and big data. At EI, I initially worked as market advisor with Irish companies in the broader digital sector, supporting their entry and growth in the Benelux markets. I became head of the Enterprise Ireland Benelux team in 2016 and moved to Paris in 2020 to bring my expertise to the French market.

In France, I lead a team of 9 market advisors covering a broad spectrum of sectors: construction, engineering, life sciences, digital, consumer, … With my team, I support approximately 400 companies aiming to enter the French market and/or scale their businesses. We establish sustainable partnerships between indigenous Irish companies and French organisations. We help our clients find the right partners and buyers, create a presence in France and guide them through the complexity of doing business in France.

For French companies, we offer a single point of contact for accessing the innovative solutions built in Ireland. Originally from Ghent, Belgium, I now reside in Paris 8 with my partner. My daughter lives in Paris as well, while my two boys stayed in Belgium. I am a sports fan, with a particular interest in basketball and a growing interest in rugby (though I’m still trying to fully grasp the rules) and Gaelic sports.  

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What does Ireland’s economic relationship with France look like today — and how has it evolved in recent years?

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France and Ireland have long-standing trade relations. Over 45Bn€ worth of goods and services are flowing between the two countries on a yearly basis and the volume has grown over the years. France is Ireland’s 5th largest export market globally. Although perhaps less visible in macroeconomic trade figures, a clear trend has emerged in recent years when looking at the export volumes of indigenous businesses, filtered from intra-company trade and onward trade volumes. Post-Brexit, Enterprise Ireland clients have consistently delivered double-digit growth, with an average CAGR of 13.5%.

Unlike other European countries where growth is highly dependent on the high-tech construction sector, export to France is diversified, spread over sectors such as construction products, precision engineering, Pharma and Pharma services, Fintech, Enterprise solutions, fashion & accessories, etc. This diversification ensures a sustainable and robust trade partnership. Another aspect that characterizes the franco-irish trade is partnership. Few Irish companies enter the French market independently; most seek strong local partners to support their growth. This results in distribution agreements, joint product developments and even mergers and acquisitions.

Over the past years, we have seen very successful M&A projects between French and Irish businesses. Culturally, the two countries align well.

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Where do you see the biggest opportunities for Irish companies looking to enter or grow in the French market?

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There are a number of areas where opportunity is particularly strong:Investment in decarbonisation and sustainability – Ireland and France share the same ambitions when it comes to preserving our planet. Innovative solutions are emerging that help business managing their ecological footprint. Think of alternative energy, monitoring software, micro-mobility solutions, … Investment in digital transformation – The digital sectors is a cornerstone of Ireland’s economic success thanks to the decision of digital giants choosing the island as their European beachhead and building a powerful ecosystem.

From this ecosystem has spun a startup and scale-up scene of exceptional strength, backed by leading edge R&I institutions and technology centers. These innovative players are now ready to bring their technology and know-how to European markets. France having positioned as the leading tech hub in Europe with significant backing from the France 2030 plan is an ideal target market for Irish companies in the digital sector. AI-based solutions are very welcome in this advanced market.

The Irish sportstech sector is making French rugby teams stronger. Though that might be a mixed blessing for Irish fans!

Agritech innovation – France’s large food production sector constantly looks for efficiency improvement, quality standards adherence and operational excellence. Ireland boasts a strong cluster of agri-tech and agri-machinery producers that can bring this efficiency. The proximity of both countries makes it easy to bring product into the market.

Other sectors of opportunity include digital health, aerospace and aviation, equine, logistics, … The Enterprise Ireland team stands ready to advise French and Irish companies on the opportunities for their businesses.

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You’ve attended the Interceltic Business Forum before — what’s the ROI for you, Enterprise Ireland, and Irish companies in being part of a gathering like this?

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At last year’s edition of the forum, I witnessed how 3 of our client companies initiated lasting partnerships with Breton organisations. Personally, I met and spoke with people who brought valuable insights on topics like trade development and entrepreneurship. The forum strikes the right balance between general networking, thematic content, and tangible business opportunities. All of this in a convivial atmosphere.

As a trade agency, we want to bring the message across that the French opportunity lies beyond the main city centers like Paris, Lyon. The Northern French regions – and Brittany in particular – offer a good fit for Irish businesses from a business culture perspective. Anything that facilitates market access enhances the likelihood of success.  

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As the business landscape evolves, what emerging trends or technologies are you keeping a close eye on that might influence Irish exports or trade policy?

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The term most frequently heard in our circles these days is “diversification.” The less a business is dependent on one market, one product, one vertical, … the more resilient and future-proof it becomes. Irish businesses have shown huge resilience in past years, first coping with Brexit, supply chain disruption and now US tariff  threats.

For the first time in history, exports of Irish companies to the European region is higher than their exports to their traditional export markets UK and US. UK exports haven’t dropped, but European exports have grown faster, thanks to a sustained focus on the region and the boldness of Irish businesses to explore new markets.

On the technology front, Artificial Intelligence undoubtedly stands out. We are supporting our clients with embedding this new technology in their operations and product development. We have seen leading edge AI solutions emerge from Ireland in areas such as health, mobility, procurement, etc. Once the hype surrounding AI subsides, other important aspects will come into focus.

How to make technology and humans work together effectively and safely; how to build a regulatory framework that leaves enough room for innovation and entrepreneurship while protecting society and human values. I see Ireland and France play a key role in this.

Finally, the commitment to achieving net-zero emissions is here to stay. Businesses need to adopt decarbonisation as a means to make their products more competitive and go beyond the need for compliance.

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Conclusion

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From digital transformation to decarbonisation, the French market is evolving fast—and Irish innovators are increasingly well positioned to lead. As Patrick sees it, events like the Interceltic Business Forum are more than networking—they're a catalyst for trust, partnership, and long-term growth across the Celtic world and Europe.

Catch Patrick Torrekens and other leaders in Lorient on August 4th as we shape the future of Interceltic innovation together.

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