The France Pavilion
OSAKA Kansai World Expo©DR

13 April - 13 October 2025

SUMMARY
FOREWORD BY EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

3

AN EDITORIAL BY OLIVIER BECHT, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE,
ATTRACTIVENESS AND FRENCH NATIONALS ABROAD

4AN EDITORIAL BY JACQUES MAIRE, CHAIRMAN OF COFREXCOMMISSIONER GENERAL FOR FRANCE OSAKA 2025

5

THE FRANCE PAVILION AT THE 2025 OSAKA WORLD EXPO, A DRIVER OF OUTREACH,
DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACTIVENESS

6

1 The World Expo, a world event working for sustainable development

6

2 France, a passion for world expos

7

3 Japan, one of France’s key partners

7

4 From Osaka 1970 to Osaka 2025

8

THE 2025 OSAKA EXPO DESIGNING TOMORROW’S SOCIETY, IMAGINING OUR LIVES IN THE FUTURE

91 An overview of the WORLD EXPO 2025

9

2 Major industrial, technical and scientific innovations unveiled at World Expos

10

THE FRANCE PAVILION, A BOLD SHOWCASING OF OUR NATIONAL “SAVOIR FAIRE”

12

1 “A hymn to Love” as the guiding theme

12

2 A concept building that is designed to move people

13

3 A building designed to be both sustainable and responsible

14

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

16

1 A permanent exhibition designed to be like a lovers’ walk17

2 Design in all its forms

18

3 A programme that showcases France’s assets

19

THEMED FORTNIGHTS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVLOPMENT GOALS

20

THE MAIN STAGES IN THE LIFE OF THE PAVILION

21

THE SPONSORS OF THE FRANCE PAVILION

22

ANNEXES

24

BIOGRAPHY OF JACQUES MAIRE - COMMISSIONER GENERALOF THE FRANCE PAVILION OSAKA 2025 AND CHAIRMAN OF COFREX

25

COFREX: A VISION OF FRANCE ON THE INTERNATIONAL
STAGE
THE FRANCE BRAND

26
26

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FRANCE PAVILION

27

1 The creatives

28

2 The people responsible for the construction and design of the France Pavilion

30

FOREWORD BY
THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE“If there were just one feeling associated with the French
mindset, it would definitely be love.
Whether it is being celebrated, wept for, depicted in our arts,
embodied in individuals’ desire to transcend as seen in ourmonuments, carried in our patriotism over the centuries,
directed towards our countryside and nature in our expertiseand our traditions, love runs through France’s veins.
This heartfelt passion has often been elevated into a kind of
spiritual journey. We are all facing the same challenges - be it
peace between nations, the future of the planet or protecting
freedoms in every society. This journey, this adventure, must
continue in the coming decades and beyond.

This is the French vision of the world, a paean to love, boldness and dialogue that visitors to the France Pavilion at Expo
2025 in Osaka will be discovering.

©DR

It will be embodied in the offerings of our companies, artists
and scientists, and all of them in their own particular way willbe trying to bring to the world our French vision of rationality,
beauty, progress and freedom, and with it, the ambition, as withlove, to use a universal language that expresses hope to theworld of the future.”

Emmanuel Macron
President of the French Republic

3

FRANCK RIESTER’SEDITORIAL

After focusing on France in 2024, the world will meet in Japan
in 2025: Osaka will be the host city of the next World Expo.
True to tradition, this Expo, under the theme of “Designing
Future Society for Our Lives”, will advocate an innovative
future, in which science and technology will enable us all to
respond to the challenges facing us.
After a year in which many people will be drawn to France, with
the Olympic and Paralympic Games, ceremonies to mark the80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, the Francophonie
Summit and the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, theFrench Pavilion in Osaka will no doubt attract crowds.
Bearing the colours of the “France” Brand, this space will invite
visitors to “make it iconic” and “choose France”. It will
demonstrate the depth and the excellence of French expertise– from food to art to cutting-edge technology – but also ourrich culture, heritage and identity.

©DR

The French Pavilion will promote companies, sectors,
professions and products of which we are immensely proud. It
will show how through political, economic, cultural and social
choices made in recent years, France has managed to embody
daring and creativity.
Alongside numerous other exhibiting countries, and in Japan, acountry with which we are bound by an “exceptional
partnership” and many shared values – which were reiterated
last year during Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Paris and thenthe President of the French Republic’s trip to Hiroshima for theG7 Summit – France will express its willingness to build,through dialogue, a pluralistic, multipolar and multilateralworld.
Today, 23 April 2024, I am delighted to turn the first sod in theconstruction of this Pavilion in Osaka. It will be built thanks to
the valuable support of our partners and patrons. I would liketo thank them, as well as Cofrex of course, for providing such asplendid showcase for French inventiveness!

Franck Riester
Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic
Attractiveness, Francophonie and French Nationals
Abroad, attached to the Minister for Europe andForeign Affairs

4THE OSAKA 2025
WORLD EXPO:THE FRANCE PAVILION A
HYMN TO LOVE!
World Expos are a special time for sharing and passion. Thisis even truer when it is being held in Osaka, a Japanese citythat encourages us all to imagine life in the future. In theface of our world that is searching for its identity, France is
responding in an optimistic and committed way with its
values and its sensibilities. It invites the Expo’s 28 million
visitors to enjoy an outstanding experience, an immersive
France Pavilion, a landmark building that is the incarnationof a "hymn to Love.”This Pavilion will be a place for both exhibitions and emotions, and it will also provide a hub of event services, offeringa unique opportunity for a France on the move to showcase
its expertise and commitments to companies, professional
associations, regions, research and cultural institutions, etc.

©DR

In its central location, the France Pavilion is ideally positioned
opposite the main entrance to the World Expo and near theJapan Pavilion to convey France’s international vision andprovide an outstanding showcase for France’s presence inthe worlds of culture, science, society and industry.
In Osaka, the France Pavilion will also be directing itself to theJapanese people, a demographic with high expectations andreferences that are often far removed from those of the west.
This "hymn to love" is our common thread, offering a new vision for the future with a strong message about the meaningof life and its finest expression, Love: Love for yourself, Lovefor others, Love of the planet, and also the love story between
France and Japan.
Everyone is welcome to join us in crafting France’s message
at OSAKA 2025!

Jacques Maire
Chairman of COFREX
Commissioner General for France OSAKA 2025

5

THE FRANCE PAVILION AT THE
2025 OSAKA WORLD EXPO,A DRIVER OF OUTREACH,
DEVELOPMENT AND
ATTRACTIVENESS
1. The World Expo, a world event working for sustainable
development
In 1851, what were then referred to as "universal exhibitions" at the height of the industrial
revolution, were created with "the primary aim of educating the public, presenting an inventory of the means available to humanity to meet our civilisation’s needs, in one or several
areas of human endeavour, highlighting the progress that has been achieved and prospects
for the future.1”
Since then, universal exhibitions have been helping to produce progressive solutions tomajor world challenges.
These extraordinary events follow the rules set by the Bureau international des expositions(BIE), created in 1928, and are divided into world expos (6 months) and more specialist
exhibitions (horticultural, international and triennial arts events, 3 months).
World expos are global events, international gatherings where cultural and scientificattractions for the wider public meet political forums and conferences. They bring together
international creative forces in many different fields, including architecture, the arts,
culture and stage design, as well as industry, technology, the sciences, city planning,education, economics, politics and diplomacy.
These major events are visited by millions of people, both the general public and professionals to find out about the latest innovations in participating countries, private andpublic countries, multinational organisations, academic institutions and Non-Governmental
Organisations. Hence the aim of World Expos is to provide each country with an outstanding
venue to showcase its skills, as well as to share a vision of the future that benefits everyone.
Currently, World Expos are still an unparalleled showcase for countries, held in a spiritof cooperation and celebration. In the same way as the Olympic Games, they are widely
recognised as leading international events dedicated to the international community.

©DR

Article 1.1 of the 1928 Convention relating to international exhibitions, BIE.

2. France, its passion for world expos
As the first of its kind, the National Exhibition of Industrial Products was opened in Parison 19 September 1798, at a time when industry and agriculture were being reinvented.
The first “Universal Exhibition” was held in London in 1851, and was followed by the Paris
Universal Exhibition in 1855.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Paris Exhibition to symbolise French virtuosity inbuilding metal structures and to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the foundingof the French Republic. It formed the entry point. Following in the footsteps of history,
Japan has put the France Pavilion at the entrance of the World Expo in 2025.

©DR

©DR

Right from the inception of World Expos, France has taken part in every one, considering
them to be an opportunity for the country to make its mark on the international stage andan outstanding occasion to bring together the French people around the Pavilion and themessages it sends out.

3. Japan, one of France’s key partners
Japan is the 3rd economic power in the world behind the United States and China, and oneof the richest countries on the planet, and it is also one of the world’s biggest importers
and the gateway to the East Asian market. The Japanese market is also the 3rd biggest ecommerce market in the world.
Japan’s expertise and advanced technologies, as well as its unique culture, attract a great
many international companies. Japan is a future-facing modern country that has also
remained deeply traditional while ready to adopt outside innovations. In recent years, trading
links between France and Japan have grown, but have not yet reached their full potential.
The Japanese people enjoy a purchasing power that is one of the highest in the world,
coupled with a very low unemployment rate (2.6% in 2022). It stands out for its exacting
standards and a strong desire for innovation. Japan is frequently a preferred test market
when new products and services are being launched. This is where French knowledge andskill enjoy a strong brand image in the worlds of cosmetics, luxury goods, fashion andcuisine.
Japan is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050, prioritising information technology
and digital applications, and is determined to build an “innovative, intelligent and sustainable“
society, all of which provide opportunities for innovative French companies working inindustry, transport, the environment, health and the digital world. This dynamic is an
incentive for French businesses to expand into the Japanese market.

7

In Osaka, the France Pavilion also wants to reach out to the Japanese people, an audience
with high expectations and with points of reference that are often far removed from thosefound in the Western world. It will be able to give more visibility to the “France 2030 plan”
for reindustrialisation, and stimulate partnerships with a Japan that via its “New Capitalism”
project is seeking answers to its economic issues.
Alongside its impact on visitors from the general public, it is also a key element of themission and the Pavilion’s success to stimulate trade agreements.

4. From Osaka 1970 to Osaka 2025
Japan is one of the founding members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
It took part for the first time as an exhibitor at a World Expo in the 1867 Paris Exhibition.
Ever since then, Japan has carried on with world expos and international exhibitions with apassion, and has organised them as the host country on a number of occasions.
In 1970, the country hosted the first World Expo held in Asia, in Osaka. This event was
extremely important at the time for Japan to confirm itself as an advanced industrial
nation opening up to the rest of the world. The Expo was based on the theme of “Progressand Harmony for Humanity” with 77 participating countries, including the USA and the
USSR, and it presented technological progress, not to glorify it but rather to educate andfoster peace. With a record number of 64 million visitors, it became the second most visited
exhibition in the history of major global events.
In 1985, Japan hosted 111 countries in Tsukuba for the “International Exhibition of Scienceand Technology”, focusing on “The Home and the Environment: science and technology
working for humans in their homes”. Over 20 million visitors came in the six month period inwhich the expo was held.
In 2005, once again Japan played host to a World Exposition in Aïchi in Nagoya’s eastern
hills, with “Nature’s Wisdom” as its theme. 121 countries took part.

©DR

At the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo, running from 13 April to 13 October 2025, Japan will bebringing the international community together again to celebrate the very best aspects ofprogress.

THE 2025 OSAKA EXPODESIGNING TOMORROW’S SOCIETY,IMAGINING OUR LIVES IN THE
FUTURE
Osaka 2025 World Expo’s ambition is to act as an international laboratory for innovationand expert knowledge coming from public and private national stakeholders to build thesociety of the future around the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and to share themwith as many people as possible.
It is taking place from 13 April to 13 October 2025 in Osaka (Kansai) under the banner,”Designing tomorrow’s society, Imagining our lives in the future”, and is broken down
into three sub-themes: “Saving lives”: protecting health and fighting against natural
catastrophes, “Empowering lives”, re-imagining education and work in the era of Artificial
Intelligence and robotics, “Connecting lives”, promoting understanding between different
cultures and innovating by using information and communication technologies.
The site of the event, designed by the Japanese architect Sosuke Fujimoto, will host allof the Pavilions of the participating Nations and International Organisations, and will beinterspersed by squares and esplanades along the main traffic thoroughfare to provide
various atmospheres and experiences for visitors.
The France Pavilion is located in the ”Empowering Lives” zone, and means “our lives” ina wider sense, i.e., people, society, the living, and questions the place of humans in theirenvironment in order to showcase all the diversity and boldness of French expertise.
The France Pavilion is strategically located facing the main entrance the OSAKA EXPO
2025, benefitting from exceptional visibility right from the underground train station exit
for the Osaka Expo 2025, in the middle of the flow of visitors in the “Empowering Lives”
zone. Located right opposite the Japan Pavilion, its position again underlines its attractiveness and ensures a high number of visitors.

1. An overview of the World Expo 2025
Yumeshima Island, a man-made island in the bay of Osaka
155 hectares
Sosuke Fujimoto, the overall architect for the project
A wooden “roof ring” measuring 615 metres in diameter with a circumference of 2 km,
running right round the World Expo site, with a design that symbolises “unity in diversity”
A main theme: « Designing tomorrow’s society, Imagining our lives in the future »Three sub-themes: “Saving Lives”,“Empowering Lives” and “Connecting Lives”

Three macro-areas: Green World, Pavilion World and Water World
28 million visitors expected
80% of visitors from Japan, China and Korea
161 participating countries
9 international organisations olved
92. Major industrial, technical and scientific innovations
are unveiled at World Expos:
For as long as international exhibitions have existed, they have always focused in diplomatic,
technological and business exchanges and discussions. Visitors are able to discover thelatest inventions and innovations, new manufacturing materials and techniques, andparticipating countries are able to display their excellence to the whole world.
Let’s take a look at several major innovations that were unveiled at World Expos

2020 Dubaï
The Leabot airship, designed by Flying Whales, made it possible to transport up to
80 tonnes of goods into regions that are otherwise inaccessible by road and sea,
and in doing so, considerably reducing the environmental impact.

2015 Milan
Presentation of the next generation Internet Protocol network and a capillary Wi-Fi
infrastructure capable of providing very high-speed internet access.

2005 Aichi
Humanoid robots created by Toyota, Sony and Honda, which were capable of taking careof cleaning, security and acting as guides etc. went up and down the streets ofthe exhibitions, while the “Bio-lung", the biggest living wall in the world, was on display.

1970 Osaka
The first ever mobile telephone showed what this technology could do.
Other exhibits included a high-power electronic microscope, the first IMAX cinema
and a levitating electronic train.

1962 Seattle
Visitors were dumbstruck by IBM’s Shoebox, a computer that could respondto vocal commands.

1939 New York
Visitors took part in the first ever live television broadcast from the Expo site.

1904 Saint LouisThe X-Ray machine, which nowadays can be found in every hospital and airport
in the world, was presented for the first time ever.

101905 Liège
The Chronophone designed by Léon Gaumont was one of the first machinesthat was capable of synchronising sound and image.

1900 Paris
The first line of the Paris metro and the first escalator were opened for use,with the occasion being filmed by the Lumière brothers.
The biggest astronomical telescope of its time for observing the moon was installed in
the Palais de l’Optique. It was 60 metres long and weighed 20 tonnes.

1893 Chicago
The first ever Big Wheel was unveiled, measuring 80 metres high with 36 cabins,
each of which could hold 60 people!

1889 Paris
The 1889 exhibition gave the French capital its Eiffel Tower.
In the name of “Wellbeing”, Hermine Cadolle presented the first bra, for which
she took out a patent. A veritable revolution in ladies’ undergarments!

1878 Paris
Thomas Edison’s phonograph was one of the main attractions, and was reported
in all the papers and magazines.

1876 Philadelphie
Alexander Graham Bell presented the first telephone - a world exclusive.
It was also the first sighting of popcorn and Heinz ketchup!

1867 ParisAt the Expo, the precursor to the Eurotunnel was presented, with a plan to build
an underwater tunnel between England and France. It was designed by engineer
Aimé Thomé de Gamond, but was never built.

1855 Paris
Samples of sodium, aluminium chloride and an aluminium ingot were displayed in
the Panorama’s rotunda. Over 5 million visitors came to admire this new metal.
Foucault’s pendulum, which had been invented in 1851, proved the Earth’s rotation
and was given a very honourable mention.

11

©DR

THE FRANCE PAVILION, A
BOLD SHOWCASING OF OURNATIONAL “SAVOIR FAIRE”
1. “A hymn to Love” as the guiding theme
The France Pavilion seeks to provide a response to social and environmental challenges
by inspiring individual and group commitment. It offers a new vision of the future, one
guided by the meaning of life and its most beautiful expression, Love, through a universal
world view.
Art, science and technology are all useful resources that contribute to this loving visionof the future. The France Pavilion is offering up this quest for meaning to visitors from allover the world, highlighting technology through its ability to respond to the basic needs ofhumanity and nature.
In Japanese culture, the legend of the red thread, or Akai Ito, refers to the joining of two
beings by an invisible, indestructible magic thread attached to their little fingers. It is theintention of the French Pavilion to be a symbol of love between France and Japan, andthe permanent exhibition constitutes its beating heart. An infinite dialogue is suggested
between three interconnected movements: loving yourself (enhancing everyone’s ability
and skills), loving others (shown through knowing how to live, social solidarity and inclusion),and the love of nature (in order to protect it more effectively, regenerate it and use it in asustainable way).

In various economic fields (Living Heritage Companies, innovation, energy transition, thecircular economy, lifestyle, etc.), and in cultural and scientific fields, these three dimensionsof Love will promote:
Boldness: In a world filled with upheaval and with the challenges of our time, the France
Pavilion has opted to capitalize on the outstanding dynamic of the French ecosystem forinnovation.
Savoir-Faire: French lifestyle calls to mind cuisine, science, fashion, culture, education,
diversity and sophistication, embodies France’s showcase abroad.
Commitment: Autonomy, individual empowerment and taking responsibility, as well as
collective commitment, are what make it possible to face the challenges of today’s world.
These values, as they are embodied by the France Pavilion, illustrate the France brand.
12

2. A concept building that is designed to move people
The Pavilion has been designed to welcome over 3 million visitors and to offer a uniquevisitor experience, a multisensorial journey that is full of positive emotions and appeals tothe senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste.
The France Pavilion has been jointly designed by French architecture studio Coldefy and
Italian architecture and innovation practice CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati to express the guiding thread of a hymn to love within its overall architecture: the permanent and temporary
exhibition spaces, the public service spaces (the shop, bakery and bistro), as well as thespaces given over to professionals and Pavilion partners.

A powerful expression of French identity
The Pavilion’s imposing façade is revealed right from the visitors entrance. With its modern,pared-back style, it evokes a theatre set that has been opened up to its audience, while atthe same time maintaining an air of mystery. As in a theatre, it side facades are completely
screened, and allow access to the various areas through passages that also serve asplaces to meet.
Nestled along the pavilion’s rear facade, the garden forms an integral part of the permanent
exhibition. Echoing the pavilion’s overarching theme — an ode to love — the garden’s
spectacular scenography evokes the France Pavilion’s message of love for nature.

©DR

The whole building evokes a sensuality, distinction and French chic.

©DR

3. A building designed to be both sustainable and responsible
The Pavilion is designed to be a temporary building with optimised recyclability. The metal
structure can be reassembled in elements and modules that can be used for other buildings.
21% of the Pavilion’s built surface is made up of prefabricated rented modules which arereusable.
Above and beyond its aesthetic appearance, the exterior shell acts as protection for theFrance Pavilion. It is built as a double skin to improve the building’s thermal performanceby reducing heat transfer. Together with natural ventilation, it reduces energy consumption
for heating and air conditioning.
A green roof covers and insulates the building, helping to control its temperature andimprove its thermal performance. The roof also allows rainwater to be collected and reused.

14

THE FRANCE PAVILION IN FIGURESThe way in which the Pavilion is arranged is designed to welcome a great number of visitors,
estimated to be in excess of 25,000 visitors a day, counting all the different spaces.
•

87 meters long, 22.5 meters wide at the narrowest point and 31.7 meters wide at the rearfaçade•Maximum height 17 meters, minimum height 11.5m•

Main facade (eastern): 17 meters high and 22.5m wide (so 382.5m²)•

Southern facade: height between 17 and 11.5m, length 87m•

4000 m2 of flooring•

Including 300 m2 of gardens•

Permanent exhibition: 800 m2•

Temporary exhibition: 200 m2•

Space for professional events: 30m2 indoor + 20m2 terrace, which can be shared with the•

Bistro: 100 m2 indoor + 30m2 terrace•

Shop: 34 m2•

Bakery/pastry shop: 29 m2 + 135m2 of bakehouse©DR

conference room

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE
The visitor experience delivers an emotional journey that will make a visit a memorable one.
Through its committed representation of France and French companies, it offers a visionand meaning. It provides innovation with an interactive presentation of the solutions onoffer from French stakeholders. Lastly, the visit includes a multi-faceted aspect, sharing theexpertise and experience from the French economic, scientific and cultural ecosystem andthe diversity of our regions.
The visitor journey starts right from the queue, which begins under the Pavilion’s entrance
porch and goes in front of the bakery, allowing everyone to gradually travel up a gentlysloping ramp.
As they move through the entryway leading into the permanent exhibition, visitors aregreeted by an Aubusson tapestry, entitled: “Ashitaka tends his demon wound,” inspired by
the Hayao Miyazaki film Princess Mononoke. This monumental work stands as an emblemof the friendship between France and Japan.

©DR

Visitors then cross an aerial walkway to access the first part of the permanent
exhibition. After this first part of the permanent exhibition, visitors will go into the garden,
the second part of the permanent exhibition. This timeless space gives them an opportunity
to gaze upon the beauty of nature, before they reenter the Pavilion for the third part of thepermanent exhibition.

©DR

1. A permanent exhibition designed to be like a lovers’ walk
The permanent exhibition was designed in collaboration with artist Justine Emard, who
is also its Artistic Director, as a lovers’ lane as part of a journey, opening up an infinite
dialogue between three movements: loving yourself, loving others and loving nature.
It begins on a walkway that crosses the building, then continues into the garden and ends
on the ground floor of the building, in the third and final section of the permanent exhibition.
The permanent exhibition’s set design has chosen to use different methods of presentationsuch as sets, mapping, objects, works of art, prototypes, etc. Technology is presented firstand foremost as a way of fulfilling the needs of humans and nature.

17

©DR

2. Design in all its forms
The exhibition spaces are complemented by the areas given over to serving the generalpublic (the shop managed by the Tricots Saint James Group and Arteum, along with the
bakery and bistro run by Maison Eric Kayser), and various functional spaces – the co-working lounge, the conference and demonstration room, a flexible meeting space and a room
for receptions - which are reserved for partners and professionals who wish to organise
their b to b or public events within the France Pavilion.
The full range of French creativity will be showcased at the France Pavilion for a 6 month
period, reinstating the tradition of bringing out new, unseen designs made especiallyfor world expos, as in the case of the Pierre Paulin furniture designed for the Osaka Expoin 1970.
The France Pavilion will be the setting for a range specially designed for its bistro by
Tectona, in partnership with the French Mobilier National, following a call for young
designers organised in conjunction with Villa Noailles and its director, Jean-Pierre Blanc.
The winner is Jean-Baptiste Fastrez, with a project called 'Grenouille' ('Kaeru' in Japanese).
This exclusive line echoes the theme of the French Pavilion, "Un hymne à l'Amour", andinitiates a conversation on the love of nature.
José Lévy is the artist and designer who has been entrusted to be the Creative Directorof the various spaces of the France Pavilion.

18

3. A programme that showcases France’s assets
The Pavilion’s programming will define its six-month lifespan. It will be based on thePavilion’s editorial line, a hymn to love, and on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) which make up the basis of the OSAKA 2025 Expo’s programming.
The France Pavilion’s programming will focus on 3 main areas:
Six temporary exhibitions will be presenting living savoir-faire, works of art and live
immersive experiences.
Themed fortnights at the heart of the programming: they are devised around 12 main
themes linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, and they bring the Pavilion tolife with seminars, talks, keynote speakers, projections and shows.
The France Pavilion’s Special Days
13 April 2025: Inauguration
2 May 2025: Men & Women’s Equality Day
9 May 2025: European Day
14 July 2025: French National Holiday
13 September 2025: France Day
To be annonced : Francophonie Day©DR

13 October 2025: Closing ceremony

Themed fortnights
The themed fortnights are central to the programming, and each two-week period is illustrated at thePavilion by seminars, talks, keynote, speakers, films and shows, etc.

20

A pavilion as an immersive experience that is universally accessible
28 million visitors are expected at the Osaka 2025 Expo, with at least 3 million people
coming to the France Pavilion. That’s a lot of people, but not that many given the many
audiences with an interest in France and elsewhere in the world, so it will be possible
for all audiences to access the Pavilion remotely and virtually, especially a young public
who particularly enjoy this kind of experience.
The immersive experience will be created by the France Pavilion building, its permanent
exhibition and other events. The virtual tour can be accessed from one’s phone orcomputer, and can even be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s home. It will enable you tointeract with points of interest in the France Pavilion.

THE MAIN STAGESIN THE LIFE OF THE PAVILION

2023

2024

2025

26 May9 January

Q1

Official signature of France’s
participation

The reveal of the France Pavilion

Interior fit-out

23 April

13 April

The first stone of the French
Pavilion is laid

Opening of the World Expoand the France Pavilion

Q4

13 October 2025

The end of the construction
phase of the France Pavilion

Closing of the World Expoand the France Pavilion

7 August
Signing of the Pavilion’s
building and scene-building
contracts

20THE SPONSORSOF THE FRANCE PAVILION
The ambition of the France Pavilion at the Osaka 2025 Expo is to promote France’s economic dynamism. This is based on self-sufficiency in terms of energy, a new generation of
decarbonised industry, and the will to take on today’s scientific and social challenges,
such as the 4th age and the challenges relating to a better quality of life for Humanity andNature in the next few years. The Pavilion also leverages our country’s ability as a world
leader in lifestyle and the cultural and creative industries.
The Osaka 2025 Expo is an outstanding showcase for promoting the expertise and innovation of the companies who have already joined the France Pavilion.
The excellence of French savoir-faire is world-renowned in many different areas including
aeronautics, space exploration, energy, the environment, culture, science, farming, healthand the luxury sector. With our much-appreciated and sought-after talents, over the years
we have demonstrated our ability to adapt to technological evolution and offer solutions
that are more and more innovative.
The diversity of the French regions is a huge reservoir of talent, across all generations.
For those with lower international recognition, they will be able to capitalise on a boosted
profile throughout the 6 months of activities at the France Pavilion.
The Pavilion’s partners will also be contributing with their skill sets and knowledge to
the Pavilion’s programming and set design (exhibition spaces, visitor journey, themed
fortnights, etc.)
This provides a unique opportunity for them to highlight their contribution to meet thechallenges of the 21st century, to create confidence in the future and to boost France’s
image internationally and to the French people themselves.

23

ANNEXES

24

BIOGRAPHY OF
JACQUES MAIRE
COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF THE FRANCE PAVILIONOSAKA 2025 AND CHAIRMAN OF COFREX

Jacques Maire is a diplomat who began working on European
issues in Paris (at the Quai d’Orsay (Foreign Ministry) and thePrime Minister’s Office) and in Brussels. He has enjoyed a wide
range of governmental responsibilities: Chief of Staff to the
Minister of Regional Planning and the Environment (19971998), Representative for European and International Affairs at
the Ministry of Employment and Solidarity (1999-2002), Directorof Companies and the International Economy at the Foreign
Ministry (2012-2014). He has been an Ambassador and Special
Representative for the reconstruction and development ofcountries in crisis (2017), with particular responsibility for the
Sahel Region and the Middle East. He was appointed as theCommissioner General of the France Pavilion and the Chairmanof COFREX on 7 February 2023.

©DR

In the private sector, Jacques Maire has held different posts
within the AXA group from 2002 to 2012, as the International
Development Director of AXA Group, then the Managing
Directeur of AXA Group Hungary and AXA Bank Hungary (20022012). He was also Director of the social and environmental
rating agency Vigeo-Eiris (2015), as well as Project Director for
the implementation of COP 21 for the French Smart Grids
sector (2016).
As a politician, Jacques Maire held a number of posts between
1995 and 2008 in Brittany, first as a local councillor in Plabennec,
then as the Vice-Chairman of the Communauté Urbaine deBrest, then a regional councillor. In 2017, he was elected asa member of the French parliament for the Hauts de Seine
constituency, becoming Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Commission and, until June 2022, Chairman of the Liberal
Alliance in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Jacques Maire was born in 1962 in Enghien-les-Bains and holds
a Master’s Degree in Applied Economics from Paris Dau- phine
University, a postgraduate diploma (DESS) in International
Finance, is a graduate of the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris(Paris Institute of Political Studies), and is a former student of
the École Nationale d’Administration (National School of Administration), where he graduated as part of the “Jean Monnet”
year group (1990).
He is also Vice-Chairman of the “Confrontations Europe” think
tank.

25

COFREX:A VISION OF FFRANCE ON THE
INTERNATIONAL STAGE

Founded in January 2018, COFREX (French Exhibition Company) is a publicly owned simplified
joint-stock company.
Its creation was a turning point for French involvement at international events for thegeneral public, as it was the first time that an expert body had been put together in this area.
Its aim is to prepare, organise and oversee France’s participation in universal and international Exhibitions.
COFREX’s creation is part of a sustainable, long-term project to use the experience ofprevious Expos in order to perfectly and cost-effectively organise France’s involvement
at World Expos and other international exhibitions. It forms part of a partnership-based
approach between public and private participants, brought together with a focus on
France’s image and economic appeal.
It has a Japanese subsidiary: Republic of France Pavilion Osaka 2025.

www.cofrex.fr

THE FRANCE BRAND
As part of the race for global influence, it was essential to undertake in-depth work on theFrance brand in order to boost our profile as a top-tier nation. France’s fundamental valuesof humanism, universalism, inclusion, creativity, excellence and openness come to the fore
with boldness.

Our questioning French mindset is what sets us apart.
We are constantly driven to reinvent, foster innovative concepts and bring together the talentsthat transform things, disrupt the status quo and impact the world in a positive way.
With special help from an international campaign, the France brand’s unique positioning
is making a contribution to France’s appeal worldwide, and is inspiring all its subsidiarybrands (ChooseFranceTM, TasteFranceTM, ExploreFranceTM, PartnerWithFranceTM and ExperienceFranceTM) that promote France abroad in all business sectors.

26

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE FRANCE PAVILION
1. The creatives
COLDEFY & ASSOCIATES CITY ARCHITECTS,
THOMAS COLDEFY AND ISABEL VAN HAUTE
ARCHITECTS©DR

Coldefy is an international firm of architects and town and city
planners with offices in Lille, Paris, Shanghai and Hongkong with60 members of staff. Thomas Coldefy and Isabel Van Haute worked
with highly-reputed firms in London, New York and Paris,
before joining forces at Coldefy & Associés Architectes Urbanistes(CAAU) in 2006, which they run together today.
In the same year, they won the Hong Kong Design Institute international competition ahead of 162 teams. They envisioned a newkind of pragmatism, one where social and sensory experiences,the dynamism of the individual and the community, movement
and the programme, impact the form. For this project, the firm put
its name to a sensitive architecture embodying their approachand values, which launched the company.
In 2022, it won the project to renovate the European Parliamentbuilding measuring 84,000 square metres, with the semicircularchamber nicknamed “le Caprice des Dieux". The budget was set
at almost €500 million to turn this building into “a template forsustainable, ecological architecture that opens onto the cityand reconnects urban life with nature” A total of 132 architects
submitted their applications for this competition, including such
noteworthy people as Renzo Piano, Shigeru Banand Snøhetta.
The firm’s distinctive trademarks are its elegance, monumentalism,
a sense of the urban and attention to detail, and what sets it apartis its dynamism and creativity based on sustainable, innovative
methods which are in sync with current and future environmental
challenges.
In 2022, the Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, appointed
Thomas Coldefy as a Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres(Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature) in recognition of his
work and commitment, and the contribution made by the firm toFrance’s artistic prestige.

www.coldefy.fr

27

CRA-CARLO RATTI ASSOCIATIARCHITECT©DR

CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati is an international firm of architects andinnovators based in Turin, London and New York. Currently, CRA is
involved in many different projects around the world at every level,
while aiming to speed up the process of convergence between design, nature and digital technology in an urban setting.
Recent projects include the 280-metre high biophilic skyscraper
called CapitaSpring in Singapore, the blueprint for Milan’s innovation
quarter (MIND), the ILOW office complex in Paris, the refurbishmentof the home of the Agnelli Foundation in Turin, and the urban commissioning of the Manifesta 14 Biennale in Prishtina, Kosovo. CRA
has a very wide experience in designing world expos, from the digital water pavilion at the Zaragoza 2008 Expo to the Future FoodDistrict at the Milan 2015 Expo, along with the national Italy Pavilion
at the Dubai 2020 Expo. CRA is the sole design office whose work
has featured three times in the Time Magazine’s list of “The Best
Inventions of the Year”.
The firm is headed up by Carlo Ratti, the Director of the Senseable
City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as
well as one of the top ten most influential researchers in the worldin urban innovation.

www.carloratti.com©DR

JUSTINE EMARD ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
OF THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION
The artist Justine Emard explores the new relationships being
created between our lives and technology. Linking different visual
mediums such as photography, video and virtual reality, her work
stands at the intersection of neuroscience, objects, organic life
forms and artificial intelligence. The starting point of her work
is Deep Learning experiences and dialogue between man andmachine. She has been working with scientific laboratories inJapan since 2016. She was the winner of the Hors-les-mursartist’s residency granted by the Institut Français in 2017 in Tokyo.
Her work has been shown in museums and galleries such as the
NRW Forum (Dusseldorf),the National Museum of Singapore, theMoscow Museum of Modern Art, the Itaú Cultural Institute (SãoPaulo), the Cinémathèque Québécoise (Montreal), the Irish Museumof Modern Art (Dublin), the Mori Art Museum (Tokyo), the MOT
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, the Barbican Centre (London), the World Museum (Liverpool), the Pernod Ricard Foundation (Paris), the Cnes – the French National Space Centre (Paris)and the ZKM Centre for Art and Media (Karlsruhe). She has taken
part in international Biennales such as the Moscow International
Biennale of Contemporary Art (Russia), the Tongyong Triennale(South Korea), the Karachi Biennale (Pakistan) and the Chengdu
Biennale (China).
In 2020, she won the “IMAGE 3.0” French national photographic
commission awarded by the Centre national des arts plastiques(French National Centre for the Visual Arts) (CNAP) in partnershipwith the Jeu de Paume Museum, Paris. In 2021-22, she was invitedas an artist-teacher to Fresnoy, National Studio of Contemporary
Arts. Her work is found in national and international collections.

https://justineemard.com/
28

JOSÉ LÉVY
CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FRANCE PAVILION
The globe-trotting artist José Lévy will be working as the Creative
Director of the France Pavilion Osaka 2025 as part of a specificpartnership. He will be bringing his eye and skill set to bear on thedesign of the professional and public areas that are not part of
the Pavilion’s permanent exhibition.
As an artist who works in many different disciplines, José Lévy
navigates between the decorative and visual arts with talent anda poetic touch of humour. Each of his creations is an expressionof his unique blend of fantasy and rigour.
José Lévy is the winner of the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris, andof the Villa Kujoyama (Kyoto). He collaborates with reputed cultural
institutions and publishers like the Manufacture de Sèvres, theCristallerie de Saint Louis, the Maison Hermès, Astier de Villatte,
Roche-Bobois, Dyptique, Monoprix, Serax and Lelièvre.

His work is exhibited in the very best cultural institutions such as
the Musée Guimet, the Musée de la Chasse (Hunting Museum),the Petit Palais, the Palais de Tokyo and Perrotin.

©DR

In 2023, José Lévy designed “VERT - VERRE”, the new restaurant at
the Mac Val museum.
In 2024, he was asked by Villa Kujoyama and the Bettencourt
Foundation to curate the exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversaryof the association between the two institutions.
He is also creating the costumes for the forthcoming adaptation,
directed by Arthur Nauzyciel, of the play by Jean Genêt “TheScreens”, to run in June 2024 at the Théâtre de l’Odéon in Paris.

www.joselevy.fr

29

2. The people responsible for the construction anddesign of the France Pavilion

RIMOND
RIMOND has come to establish itself in the World Expo sector as an international player
in design and construction. RIMOND is a specialist in complex architectural projects
and sets itself apart with its commitment to ambitious projects. In particular, RIMOND
has contributed to the 2015 Expo in Milan, 2020 Expo in Dubai, the 2023 Expo in Qatar,and the next 2025 Expo in Osaka. One of RIMOND’s key projects is the Al Wasl Plaza
dome at the 2020 Expo, Dubai, a project that showed their skills in building landmark
structures. The role played by RIMOND in major works for Qatar 2023 demonstrates a
special skill for supervising and implementing complex, large-scale projects. RIMOND
stands ready to leverage this wealth of experience for the France Pavilion at Expo 2025,with the aim of creating a space embodying both innovation and the very essence ofFrench culture and aesthetics.
RIMOND is renowned, aside from its commitments to expos, for rolling out high-end
projects in collaboration with world famous architectural studios. RIMOND works on
luxury residential and hotel projects that all feature state-of-the-art design and bespoke
artisan skills. RIMOND has developed high-end residential projects for the French market
on the French Riviera.

30

GSM PROJECTIMMERSIVE EXPERIENCEGSM Project’s mission is to create unforgettable experiences.
The studio employs an approach focusing on immersive
design and public participation in order to redefine modern
visitors’ perception of subjects ranging from history to culture,from nature to technology.
GSM was founded in Montreal in 1958, and is based on amultidisciplinary design approach. Four integrated, defining
areas of expertise - set design, museum design, graphic
design and media - make it possible to devise experiences
capable of transforming concepts into genuine stories thatcome to life within a space. The firm specialises in designingand rolling out exhibitions and experiences for a wide rangeof sectors ranging from museums to science centres andfrom observation towers to tourist sites, alongside major
worldwide events.
Some of the achievements responsible for the firm’s international renown include stand-out exhibitions for Pointe-à-Callière, the archaeological andhistorical site in Montreal, the National Museum of Singapore, the observation
experience At The Top at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Star WarsMC Identities interactive
exhibition which has been touring internationally for over 10 years, as well as exceptional
pavilions at Expo events like Expo 67 in Montreal, Expo 86 in Vancouver, Expo 98 in Lisbon,
and Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
GSM Project is located in Montreal, Singapore and Paris, and works on projects in North
America, Asia and Europe. The firm has been working on projects in France for over 20
years. Recent projects include the permanent route at the Cité du Vitrail, Troyes (2022),
and the visitors’ tour of the Cointreau distillery in Angers (2020). GSM Project will be at the
Osaka Expo 2025, staging the permanent exhibition for the France Pavilion France designed
by visual artist Justine Emard and produced by Expomobilia, a general contractor working
in the international exhibition sector, working in collaboration with lighting designers 8’18’’
and landscape designers from Topager.
GSM joined Humanise in April 2022, a consortium of independent companies working in
the world of communication. Joining Humanise was the opportunity to make a change
in terms of their governance - 4th generation - and to promote a new generation ofcreatives at GSM: Eric Demay, François Bellehumeur, Erika Kiessner and Nathanael
Meyer, here next to Sébastien Fauré, Chairman of Humanise, the new associates whowill be taking the firm forward.

https://gsmproject.com/fr/

31

EXPOMOBILIA
Expomobilia has been excelling since 1973 in building cutting edge, bespoke temporary
constructions. The company has positioned itself as a worldwide general contractor for
trade fair stands, pavilions, structures for events, experiences and cultural exhibitions.
Since 2007, Expomobilia has been an Independent subsidiary of MCH Group AG employing
over 100 people worldwide. Their Head Office is in Zurich, Switzerland. They have offices
and productions in over 15 European cities, in the US, the United Arab Emirates and Asia.

Expomobilia was involved from the get-go in the first event of the new art show called Paris
Art Basel, which took place in 2022, Expomobilia, working on design and planning, and was
responsible for managing the exhibitors who represented 156 galleries. Alongside creating
the galleries exhibition spaces, the team also planned and built the entrance, cafés andcollectors’ lounges, and pulled the whole thing off in only six weeks.

www.expomobilia.com/fr/

32

www.cofrex.fr

www.franceosaka2025.fr

PRESS CONTACTS
Nathalie Mercier
Communication and Scheduling Director
nathalie.mercier@cofrex.fr
Chloé Villanova
Communication and Scheduling Officer
chloe.villanova@cofrex.fr

cofrex@hillandknowlton.com

Copyrights :Page 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 : © Coldefy, & Carlo Ratti Associatti
Page 3 : Présidence de la République.
Page 5 & 24 : Olivier Roller.
Page 13 : Justine Emard.
Page 26 : Vincent Desailly.
P27 : Sara Magni et Quentin Chevrier.
Page 28 : Audoin Desforges.
Page 30 : GSMProject.
Page 33 : © Coldefy & Carlo Ratti Associatti

©DR