David Delaux: From ‘Europe First’ to ‘Europe Connected’
Europe first? Not according to Professor David Delaux, Valeo’s Reliability Senior Expert and Director of Regulation and Decarbonization. Europe, he argues, must abandon its outdated mindset and start thinking like a Formula 1 driver: shift gears fast, innovate quickly, and reach the market sooner. “In many areas, Asia is leading the technological race, but we can still turn the tide.”
Prof. Delaux will deliver a keynote speech on reliability during the PLOT Conference on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Circuit Zandvoort. “Reliability & Regulation encompasses much more than technology,” he begins. “It touches on politics, sustainability, and the way we collaborate. Because of current geopolitical and economic uncertainties, some companies are hesitant to do business with non-European suppliers, but that is precisely what risks putting them at a disadvantage.”
According to Prof. Delaux, international collaboration is a prerequisite for staying ahead of the competition. “This is certainly true for electronics companies and high-tech industries, where global supply chains, the availability of raw materials, and access to talent are decisive for business success.”
Learning from China and India
The Frenchman has just returned from a trip to China and is impressed by the drive of Asian tech entrepreneurs. “I’ve worked with Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian partners for years, and I’ve seen firsthand how quickly they scale up innovation. What takes Europe three years to develop reaches the market in China within ten months or less.”
That doesn’t mean European companies should blindly copy the same approach. “But we do need to be willing to learn from international competitors—from their speed, pragmatism, and mindset. Take Tesla, for example: this company started building EV factories even though the existing infrastructure was barely ready for it. Now they’re the global leader in their sector.”
According to Mr. Delaux, European companies are too cautious and slow to make decisions. “Not everything has to be perfect to get started. With 27 member states, each with its own rules and interests, accelerating is difficult but not impossible.”
Redefining reliability
“Reliability is no longer an endpoint, but a dynamic system in which we continuously work on improvement,” Mr. Delaux continues. And it is precisely there that he sees opportunities for European engineers: “Our strength lies in systems thinking. If we combine that with modern tools, we can really make a difference.”
Regulation provides direction
As an expert in regulations, Mr. Delaux knows the downside of innovative ambitions better than anyone. “Legislation on issues such as decarbonization, AI, and data protection is necessary, but it can also slow down business processes. Things go wrong when legislation is disconnected from industrial reality and when it creates unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.”
To prevent this, policymakers must work closely with industry, Mr. Delaux believes. “Regulation without dialogue leads to stagnation. Regulation with dialogue, on the other hand, can actually accelerate progress.” During the PLOT Conference, he wants to continue that conversation with his audience. “If you want to compete with low-wage countries, you have to think like a Formula 1 team. Make sure everyone in the supply chain is on the same page—both nationally and internationally—don’t let legislation paralyze you, and dare to invest. That’s the only way to stay ahead in the technological race.”
Will we see you on October 6 in Zandvoort?
Registration for the keynote and the event is free of charge on the PLOT Conference 2026 website.
About
David Delaux is the Valeo Power Division Regulation and Decarbonization, Reliability Senior expert and former president of the CEEES (Confederation of European Environmental Engineering Societies). He combines industrial experience with academic roles as a professor affiliated to University of Bradford UK and reviewer. His areas of expertise include: mechatronic system reliability, validation methods, and international standards.