STRMTG took part in the first forum of the French transport innovation agency

Just over a year after its creation, the French transport innovation agency, (Agence de l’Innovation pour les Transports- AIT) held its first forum on 7 and 8 February 2023, at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris.

The aim of the forum was to present and highlight the agency’s current initiatives (e.g. its innovation support and acceleration programme) and future goals.

The event was attended by all AIT and innovation stakeholders, including innovative companies, scientific partners, investors, local authorities, students, institutions and government services.

The two days featured a wide range of workshops (with small-group role-playing exercises), round-table discussions, debates, discussions and meetings, as well as demonstrations.

A wide range of topics were discussed, including the future of mobility, the French transport industry, hydrogen in transport, the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the role of transport service and infrastructure operators in innovation, local support for innovation, support for start-ups, urban planning, innovation provided by civil servants, and more.

Daniel PFEIFFER, Director of STRMTG, spoke at the round table on “The commons: a new basis for innovation in mobility?” STRMTG also had a stand throughout the two days: staff from the North-West office, the metros and rail systems department, the automated public transport department, the quality-audit mission and the management team were able to meet and share ideas with numerous innovative companies.

The forum also held a Hackathon, featuring ten seven-member teams made up of students, local authorities, transport and ticketing operators, design firms, entrepreneurs, user associations, and mobility and transport specialists who worked together over a two-day “design marathon” to come up with the “transport ticket of the future”.

Clément Beaune, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, responsible for transport, visited the AIT forum on the second day. He was able to observe STRMTG’s efforts to support innovation (autonomous shuttles, innovative rail systems, innovations in cableway and ropeway transport, etc.).

A closing ceremony, announcing the winners of the Propulse programme and the results of the Hackathon, brought the first AIT forum to a close.

STRMTG management would like to thank the service’s participants for manning the stand and explaining STRMTG’s roles and responsibilities, particularly in the field of innovation.