PARIS, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The third edition of World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) kicked off here on Tuesday, offering participants a chance to exchange experiences and information on new technology and research programs related to the civil nuclear industry.

Gerard Kottmann, WNE and French nuclear industry (AIFEN) chairman, said "Digitalization of the civil nuclear sector is reinventing industrial processes, offering a unique opportunity to attract the next generation, and build a skills base on which tomorrow's talented professionals will rely."

Running from June 26 to 28, the international meeting will help participants discover new technologies, innovations and research programs, real drivers for performance and competitiveness such as atom-level modelling and simulation, artificial intelligence, robotics, cobotics, drones, additive manufacturing, augmented reality and connected objects.

At the opening ceremony, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire recalled that Paris would invest 10 billion euros (11.64 billion U.S. dollars) to improve innovation in the civil nuclear industry and renewable energies.

"We are attentive about the balance between the nuclear industry and the development of renewables. We are attentive that France remains the great country of innovation," he told the gathering.

"We can also be proud of the French nuclear industry which guarantees security of supply, our competitiveness and our energy independence and be voluntary in the development of renewable energies," he added.

A total of 680 exhibitors from 35 countries and over 20,000 attendees from all over the world are expected to take part in this year's edition. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars)