Groupe Chronos

Villes2.0 is an accelerator for projects bringing technologies to services for the transformation of cities, while identifying Research & Development (R&D) avenues. Since November 2006, Chronos has been associated with FING (Fondation Internet Nouvelle Generation) and Tactis in an action program on the future of cities and TICs (technologies of information and communication). Villes2.0 brings together policy makers, businesses, research laboratories and aims to advance the strategic thinking of the actors involved.

Many partners participated in Villes2.0: JCDecaux, Laser, La Caisse des Dépôts, the PACA region, FaberNovel, Orange and Alcatel-Lucent. Our lines of studies have followed four main challenges to anticipate changes in the city, conduct forward planning and putting forward innovative projects. These reflections have resulted in four books, published in French by FYP in the collection "The Fabric of possibilities." Through the use of examples, these books explain the four challenges identified in the Villes2.0:

- The City as a Platform for Open Innovation,
- The Complex and Familiar City,
- A More Free and Sustainable Mobility,
- The 5th Screen or Urban Media in Villes2.0.

Beginning in January 2009 and in partnership with communities, businesses and schools, Ville2.0 launched its continuation with Villes2.0 & Co. This new think tank relies on innovation and experimentation. During the latest forum four major innovations were tested:

CityPulse / The Green Watch - based on experiments conducted in London, New York and San Francisco, the Green Watch is a geolocalized bracelet equipped with sensors measuring noise and air pollution;
Citywall - Already experienced in Helsinki, the giant touch will be installed in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris and made available to people to interact alone or during concerts;
Cityscan - draws a portrait of the "living city" from the multiple aggregated traces left by citizens: traffic, transportation, infrastructure, and energy consumption;
Hyper-local Revelation - Reveal new practices, build public policies adapted to local digital usage, helping companies to develop services tailored to help people better organize and better read the actions taking place in their country.

Only one motto was needed to link these four projects together: the collaborative to serve the familiar city.

Read more about Villes2.0 or Villes2.0 & Co. in French.