Workshop 4: New Economic Models in Green and Connected Cities

Key questions for this session...

- what are the successful experiments?
- can we change scale?
- can extra currencies emerge?
- what about micropayment?
- what about social and solidarity economy?

We will only have an hour and half for this session but its a potentially very fascinating session. Can things like 3D printers allow for new local economic models?

Its a session which wants to look at innovation and the models that can be behind them.

Pierre Saulay from :l'Echangeur speaking. Although he says that social innovation is really key, there's no denying that we are immersed in technology - as power at fingertips keeps growing, and the whole move to more "networked" society, the internet of "things", and the need for open standards are all key.

Had a chat in the break - French economic/tax models are changing, and currently a big debate in France in terms of what public sector can do in terms of supporting business. Sounds like they may be moving to something more similar to the UK model - though I'm not really able to get into a business tax discussion at this time in the afternoon!

Saulay is giving an overview of current trends - and makes the good point that innovation needs to  integrated within the industries that need to develop e.g. transport and buildings. Makes you wonder why we ever got rid of the TECs in the UK!

He's talking about a range of innovative model case studies. For instance, a Finnish project around "many sensors" to aggregate data. This is interesting - has implications for the DEHEMS living lab and even for the FutureEverything idea around Manchester becoming an Opendata city.

Example given of http://www.covoiturage.fr/ car sharing scheme. Advanced and innovative model - where the project is free, but there are values given to things on the scheme (I think.)

Greennext - eco consumption project ... Slides will be available for the conference at the Green and Connected Cities Cluster site.

Now Patrick Anghert from Cisco is talking gain, but this time its about the U-City, "creating a city from scratch" - using the network/ICT to develop the new city models. Move from data/voice to enabling interoperability. Cisco is going to some cities around the world that are "geared for the future" - in other words the fast connectivity is vital to make this work. It's what we want to do in Manchester. He makes the point that Cisco's role is to work with government and others to make the backbone of the internet.

Now its time  for Nicolas Foissard, of SOS group "social solidarity group". "Solidarity based structures" - SOS group has 3000 employees - similar to 3rd sector/social enterprise/co-operatives in the UK. The "social" and "human" aspects are both vital for solidarity based movements. Society is the body, people are the "cells". They work with traditionally unemployable people, insure traditionally uninsurable people, work with fair trade etc.

Its interesting to see how transferable such models might be between countries - as there are so many differences in local funding/markets etc. The current financial crisis means that its vital to look at connecting up "social innovation" and "technological innovation" e.g. social forms of currency (such as Local Exchange Trading Systems perhaps? LETS). Its about supporting the most vulnerable in society.

Presentation about what Strasbourg, Alsace region are doing in terms of ICT and digital inclusion. In a relatively good position as got good high speed connectivity across the region. A mixture of e-government, digital innovation and carbon reduction projects. Has a portal e-alsace.

I'll finish this post new - and come back in a few minutes as people join in questions and comments.