June 2026 Lighthouses: 16 new sites, 238 in total, none in France

2026-06-22 · Publisher : World Economic Forum · Domain : Industry 4.0 & 5.0

In Dalian, the WEF adds 16 sites to its Global Lighthouse Network, now 238. The cohort covers China, India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States; no French plant. The Forum also launches the Impact Stars programme.

### Background On 22 June 2026, at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian (China), the World Economic Forum announced **16 new awards** in its **Global Lighthouse Network**, now at **238 sites**. The cohort includes sites in China, India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States: **no French plant** is among them. ### Key features - Three trends highlighted: AI moves from isolated pilots to a core **operating capability**; manufacturers put **people at the centre** (skills, redesigned roles, human-machine collaboration); **sustainability** is embedded in operational strategy. - Examples: **Merck** in Fenil-sur-Corsier (biologics moved to continuous processing, speed to patient −50%); **NIO** in Hefei (digital twin handling over 3.6 million vehicle configurations, speed-to-market up 44%); **Schneider Electric** in El Paso (on-time delivery from 61% to 97%, lead times down up to 35%). - Launch of the **Impact Stars** programme to spot emerging industrial innovations before they go mainstream, and a documentary on the factories of the future. ### Why it matters The network's geography remains dominated by Asia, and France gains no ground in this cohort. For French manufacturers, the cases presented (product digital twin, continuous production, AI planning) are benchmarks to prioritise investment. ### Key takeaway AI is becoming the backbone of the world's benchmark factories, and France is absent from the latest cohort.

Tags : Lighthouse, IA, Industrie 5.0, Chine, États-Unis