Morrison Finance at Viva Technology 2025: Driving Innovation, Sustainability, and Inclusion in Finance

At Viva Technology 2025 in Paris – Europe’s largest startup and tech event – Morrison Finance joined innovators from around the globe to explore the future of finance. The 9th edition of VivaTech drew a record 180,000 visitors and showcased a vast array of cutting-edge solutions, with artificial intelligence (AI) taking center stage. As a leading European financial consultancy, Morrison Finance seized this opportunity to highlight our own innovations, forge new partnerships, and glean insights from the broader trends shaping technology and business. From AI and green innovation to global collaboration and inclusive tech, our team’s experience at VivaTech 2025 was both eye-opening and inspiring. Below, we share key takeaways and contributions from Morrison Finance’s participation, reflecting on how these trends are driving the financial industry forward.

Embracing Innovation on a Global Stage

VivaTech 2025 was truly a global gathering of innovators, and Morrison Finance was proud to be on the ground amid this dynamic environment. With 171 nationalities represented and exhibitors from over 120 countries, the event underscored that innovation knows no borders2. We engaged with startups, tech leaders, and fellow financial experts from every corner of the world, reinforcing our belief that global collaboration is essential for tackling industry challenges. Canada’s role as “Country of the Year” – bringing over 170 tech organizations and a dedicated ministerial delegation – exemplified the spirit of international cooperation at VivaTech. In this environment, Morrison Finance strengthened ties with partners and explored new ideas, recognizing that cross-border partnerships and knowledge exchange will be key to shaping the future of financial services.

Morrison Finance’s presence at the conference went beyond observation; we actively contributed to the global conversation on innovation. One highlight was an exchange with France’s Minister for Digital and AI, focusing on the role of financial institutions in driving responsible innovation. In that discussion, we shared Morrison Finance’s perspective on balancing technological advancement with ethical, inclusive practices – a theme that resonated strongly throughout the event. Our team came away with fresh ideas, valuable connections, and a renewed sense of purpose, echoing the broader sentiment at VivaTech that finance must innovate in a way that benefits business and society alike.

AI Takes Center Stage in Financial Innovation

Artificial intelligence was omnipresent at VivaTech 2025 – on every stage, in countless demos, and at nearly every exhibitor’s stand. The conference made it clear that AI’s practical applications are transforming industry after industry, and finance is no exception. For Morrison Finance, this was an affirmation of our own strategic focus on AI and automation in financial services. We witnessed AI-driven solutions for everything from fraud detection to customer service and investment analysis. The event highlighted how AI has moved beyond hype to tangible use cases: VivaTech showcased hundreds of AI startups and even saw a 40% increase in AI exhibitors compared to the previous year6, underlining that AI truly took center stage.

Our team’s key takeaway is that AI will continue to redefine financial innovation – but doing so responsibly is paramount. In our conversations and panel attendance, the emphasis was often on “augmented intelligence”: using AI to support human decision-making rather than replace it. This aligns with Morrison Finance’s approach of “human-first digital” solutions, where advanced analytics and machine learning enhance productivity without sacrificing human judgment. Notably, our dialogue with the French Digital Minister reinforced the importance of governance in AI. Financial institutions must lead in applying AI ethically, ensuring transparency and trust. Morrison Finance is committed to this path – developing AI-powered tools (such as in risk management and compliance) that improve efficiency while upholding the standards of security and fairness our clients expect. As we saw at VivaTech, AI’s role in finance is only growing, and we are excited to be at the forefront of leveraging it for smarter, more responsive financial services.

Pioneering Green Innovation and Sustainable Finance

A strong theme at VivaTech 2025 was green innovation – using technology to drive sustainability and address environmental challenges. From climate-tech startups to corporate pledges on carbon neutrality, the event showcased how “tech for good” is not just a slogan but a reality. VivaTech’s organizers themselves underscored a commitment to sustainability by renewing the Impact Bridge initiative dedicated to tech with social and environmental impact7. In practice, this meant highlighting solutions like renewable energy platforms, green fintech applications, and eco-friendly AI (reducing the carbon footprint of data centers, for example). One of the Tech for Change awards went to a project in regenerative agriculture – a clear nod to the importance of innovation in tackling climate and food sustainability. The presence of entire categories for GreenTech in the startup awards (with a standout winner addressing clean energy in Africa) further illustrated that “green” is now a core pillar of tech innovation.

Morrison Finance’s contributions in this arena center on our dedication to sustainable finance. At VivaTech, we shared how our advisory services integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into financial strategies, helping clients fund green projects and mitigate climate risks. The broader takeaway for us was that financial institutions must actively support and adopt green innovation. Whether it’s financing clean technology ventures or using digital tools to measure and reduce carbon footprints, finance has a crucial role in the transition to a sustainable economy. Morrison Finance was inspired by the wealth of climate-tech ideas we encountered – from AI optimizing energy grids to new platforms for carbon trading – many of which could transform how we think about investments and risk in the near future. The message was clear: sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. We returned from VivaTech more committed than ever to champion green finance, aligning our services with global climate goals and fostering innovation that helps build a more sustainable future.

Innovation Without Borders: Global Collaboration

If one image could capture VivaTech 2025, it would be the vibrant mix of people, languages, and ideas buzzing through the halls. The event brought together startups, investors, and industry leaders from over 120 countries, reflecting an unprecedented level of global collaboration9. For Morrison Finance, a firm that operates extensively across Europe and beyond, this was a powerful reminder that tomorrow’s financial solutions will emerge from a global innovation ecosystem. We connected with fintech entrepreneurs from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa – often finding that a startup in one market could hold the key to a problem in another. For instance, we spoke with Canadian AI startups (bolstered by Canada’s spotlight at the show) and learned from African fintech pioneers who are leapfrogging traditional banking infrastructure. These exchanges reinforced our belief that diverse perspectives spur creativity and that partnerships across borders can accelerate the development of better financial products and services.

Our participation at VivaTech also involved sharing Morrison Finance’s own experiences in cross-border innovation. We discussed case studies of how we’ve helped multinational clients implement new technologies across their global operations, and how collaborative approaches – like innovation labs and co-investments with startups – yield successful outcomes. The enthusiastic response to these stories was encouraging. There was a consensus at VivaTech that tackling issues like financial inclusion or cybersecurity requires not just a single company or country, but a concerted international effort. As one panelist noted, innovation today is a “team sport” played on a global field. Morrison Finance embraces this philosophy: we aim to be a bridge between the finance sector and innovators worldwide, leveraging our international network to bring the best solutions to our clients. Global collaboration isn’t just a talking point – it’s how we work, and VivaTech 2025 validated that this collaborative, outward-looking approach will define the next chapter of financial industry evolution.

Inclusive Tech and the Human Side of Innovation

A standout aspect of VivaTech 2025 was its focus on inclusive tech – ensuring that innovation benefits a broad and diverse spectrum of people. The conference celebrated diversity in entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Female Founder Challenge, which recognized top women-led startups, and the AfricaTech Awards, which highlighted outstanding startups from across the African continent. These programs, along with many discussions on digital inclusion and tech accessibility, underscored the industry’s growing commitment to leveling the playing field. For Morrison Finance, whose values include fostering diversity and equity, this emphasis was both refreshing and motivating. We know that in finance, inclusivity means designing services that reach the underserved, using digital tools to break down barriers, and supporting minority voices in fintech – all of which were hot topics at VivaTech.

Our team took part in dialogues about responsible innovation, an area where inclusivity, ethics, and business intersect. In our conversation with France’s Minister for Digital and AI, for example, we examined how financial firms can lead in adopting AI in ways that are fair and transparent. This reflects a broader trend from the event: technology must be developed and deployed with human values in mind. VivaTech’s organizers even launched a Global Awards Ceremony to “amplify the voices that are redefining the tech landscape,” honoring innovations that are bold, useful, and humane. We saw startup pitches geared towards assisting people with disabilities, improving mental health with AI, and bringing banking services to unbanked communities. Such innovations align with Morrison Finance’s belief that technology in finance should empower everyone – not just a privileged few.

Key takeaways for Morrison Finance include a reaffirmation that inclusive, human-centric design is critical in our own projects. Whether we’re implementing a new digital banking interface or an AI credit scoring system, we are more conscious than ever of the need to eliminate bias, protect user privacy, and ensure accessibility. The message from VivaTech was unanimous: innovation should uplift society. Morrison Finance is proud to carry that message forward, integrating these principles into our consulting practices and internal culture. After all, a forward-looking financial industry is one that leaves no one behind.

Join Us on the Journey of Innovation

Morrison Finance’s experience at Viva Technology 2025 was a journey into the heart of modern innovation – one that left us energized and optimistic about the future of finance. We contributed to vital conversations on AI, sustainability, global cooperation, and inclusion, and in turn, learned from the brightest minds across the tech spectrum. Our key takeaways are clear: AI and digital transformation will continue to redefine finance (and we will harness them responsibly), green innovation is now imperative for long-term success, global collaboration opens new horizons for growth, and inclusive tech is the cornerstone of meaningful progress. These insights are already influencing our strategic vision as we help our clients and partners navigate what’s next.

As we look ahead, Morrison Finance remains committed to translating these trends into action. We invite our clients, partners, and the wider community to engage with us on this innovation journey. Whether it’s through collaborative projects, pilot programs with startups, or simply following our Insights blog for the latest perspectives, we encourage you to be a part of the conversation. The world of finance is evolving faster than ever, and by working together – across industries and borders – we can shape a future that is technologically advanced, sustainable, and inclusive for all. Join us as we forge ahead, turning the inspiration from VivaTech 2025 into real-world solutions. Together, let’s drive responsible innovation in finance and build the future we want to see.