About us
Entente Cordiale's History
Inspired by Davos World Economic Forum’s mission and recognising the excellence of UK and French top-tier academics institution in training international leaders globally, the Entente Cordiale Day aims to become a forum where current students and future leaders meet annually in April to present to today’s global leaders their ideas, recommendations and innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing global challenges.
Maitre Yves-Justice Djimi, Co-Founder of the Entente Cordiale Day Association
Innovation as a Bridge Between Britain and France
The Entente Cordiale Day is, above all, a platform for meaningful exchange between today’s leaders and the rising generation. Every year, we bring together the greatest minds from the two nations’ top academic institutions to produce, discuss, and provide solution-focused research on today’s most pressing global issues. These institutions include Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, King’s College, and Imperial College London on the UK side, as well as various universities and grandes ecoles in France, including the Institut Polytechnique, the Sorbonne Paris, Sciences Po, EDHEC, PSL, and CentraleSupélec.
Following months of rigorous preparation, the best ten teams from the UK and France are selected through the EC Day Challenge, first by a Written Jury of world-class academics, then by a Grand Jury of prominent global figures, to be awarded the Entente Cordiale Prizes and have their reports published.
Heritage as a Link Between the Past and Future
With the dual Family Patronage of the Marquis de Breteuil and the Marquess of Salisbury, coupled with the dual Royal and Presidential Patronage of His Majesty The King and the President of France, the Entente Cordiale Prizes epitomize the union of a heritage of over 400 years with reflection on contemporary trends and challenges.
It is for this reason that the Entente Cordiale Day Summit is anchored in the iconic sites where history has been continuously made. The two-day 2025 Entente Cordiale Day Summit, held on the 7th and 8th of April in the United Kingdom, saw a series of high-level talks, presentations, and ceremonies across the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the House of Commons, the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, the London School of Economics, and Hatfield House. In 2026, the Entente Cordiale Day Summit will be held in France and will similarly boast of symbolic venues such as the École Militaire, the Hôtel des Invalides, the Pantheon-Sorbonne, and the Château de Breteuil.
Venues
Hatfield House
The current Hatfield House was built in 1611 for Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury.
The Royal Palace that formerly stood on the site was the childhood home of King Henry VIII’s children, who would later be crowned as King Edward VI, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I.
It was in the gardens of Hatfield House, under the Queen Elizabeth’s oak, that Elizabeth I famously heard the news of her accession to the throne in 1558.
The Château de Breteuil
The Chateau de Breteuil has been in the Breteuil family for over 400 years. It has been the favourite French Chateau of the King of England, Edward, VII, King George V and King Edward VIII, were frequent guests of the Chateau de Breteuil as Prince of Wales.
King George V wrote to the Marquis de Breteuil: “ My dear Breteuil, you have known me since I was a child and my Father was so fond of you, that I am indeed most grateful to you for your friendship”
Team members to be unveiled
The Entente Cordiale Day Association, driven by students and volunteers, delivers unique experiences for challenge participants and fosters a strong alumni and partners’ network, building the community each year in April and July.
Matilde Fulfaro
UK President
University of Cambridge
From Italy
Matilde Fulfaro
UK President
University of Cambridge
From Italy
Ingrid Chan
Vice President of Partnerships
University College London
From Hong Kong
Marta Koch
Vice President of Academics
Imperial College London
From the United Kingdom
Benjamin Chambers
Vice President of Sponsorships
University of Oxford
From the United Kingdom
Jaden Zhu
Vice President of Logistics
Sciences Po Paris
From Canada