In-class adaptive learning solutions, artificial intelligence models for adapting healthcare offers, virtual reality training for the armed forces, smart solutions to improve the flow of people in and around urban areas, and more. This year’s edition of the Vivatech event saw plenty of innovations in connection with the public sector!
With Tech for Good as its theme, the 2019 edition highlighted the ways in which technology can work in the public interest and for the common good. As the theme’s key stakeholders, public players were present for the event’s third edition to present their flagship innovations
Among them were the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, the General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), the Road Safety Delegation (DSR), local authorities (including Bourgogne Franche Comté, Centre-Val de Loire, Grand Est, Ile-de-France etc.), public operators (Pôle Emploi, French Digital Agency, etc.). At the Ile-de-France stand, visitors had a chance to find out about the region’s new 3D services platform, launched in 2018 in partnership with Wavestone.
A booming digital transformation of the public sector
Indeed, both the French state and France’s regional authorities are now fully engaged in innovation and the digital revolution, which could affect 70% of the public sector’s workforce. During this three-day event, discussions on the various aspects of these transformations took place in the GovTech lounge, a space dedicated to the impact of these technologies on the public sector, hosted by public players. More than 500 public-sector decision makers described how, over the past five years, public players have rapidly modified their government policy tools and methods by drawing inspiration from the universe of technology and startups in order to achieve their own digital transformation. Hence the emergence of public innovation laboratories, government start-ups, and new methods for devising public policies.
Beyond these various internal accomplishments, the public sector’s transformation is also strongly driven by a flourishing external ecosystem of GovTech start-ups. Placed at the forefront of the first GovTech summit organized in Paris in November 2018, the as yet unfixed “GovTech” concept covers a number of startup categories: those directly involved in transforming public action, those providing technologies for the public sector, and those contributing more broadly to general-interest missions without necessarily entering the public sphere. In this respect, the open data policy adopted by the French state and regional authorities (Etalab mission) in 2013 plays a key role in terms of accelerating new digital public services. GovTech start-ups are re-inventing digital public services in a number of areas: young people, education, vocational training, defense, security, healthcare, solidarity, culture, tourism, environment, agriculture, mobility, smart regions, user experience, citizen consultation, etc.
More than 100 GovTech start-ups were present at the third edition of the Vivatech event. To find out about the latest trends that are shaping this booming ecosystem of startups, Wavestone’s public sector team created a Radar of the French startups present at Vivatech which Marie-Joëlle Thenoz, an associate of the firm, presented at the GovTech Lounge.
GovTech startups: a major driver for meeting the ambitions of smart regions
The area with the highest concentration of GovTech start-ups at the Vivatech 2019 was smart regions, with issues relating to water, energy and waste, infrastructure and housing, and mobility. With smart city projects and strategies on the rise, startups like Aquasys, GreenSysTech, SunChain or Pilot Things offer the state and local governments data-based solutions for managing and optimizing water, energy or waste. Tech also represents a fundamental lever for infrastructure and housing; a number of startups utilize data to help local authorities anticipate and simulate their action plans (1001 rues, IoTThink Solutions). By way of example, through using a BIM approach, the startup 360SmartConnect offers connected concrete solutions for maintaining infrastructure. Mobility was another key topic at this year’s Vivatech, with a number of startups focused on encouraging alternative modes of transport (Geovelo, Zoov, Velco, WeTrott’). Meanwhile, others opted to apply smart people flow management solutions to the transport market and cities (Webreathe).
Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of healthcare players
The French have high digital expectations when it comes to healthcare, a state of affairs that clearly hasn’t escaped the notice of GovTech startups. In fact, healthcare was one of the key sectors at this year’s event, with more than 20 exhibitor startups operating in this field. They are mainly involved in developing AI-based solutions for healthcare players to facilitate and improve medical care:
Deski and Incepto for medical imaging, Therapanacea for cancer treatment by radiotherapy, and Anamnèse for medial consultation, among others. AI even finds itself at the center of regional healthcare strategies in the shape of decision-support solutions for local authorities. Yuni, for example, provides a cross-analysis of data to identify and anticipate a region’s health issues and thus better meet patients’ needs.
Connected objects and matching platforms to promote social links and facilitate the daily lives of vulnerable groups
In terms of solidarity, one of the distinctive features of the GovTech startups present at the 2019 edition was the diversity of their target audiences. We saw numerous innovations designed for people with disabilities, such as Virtuoz by Feelobject, a tactile, interactive map that allows those with visual impairments to navigate themselves independently, or Faciligo, a social network that facilitates mobility for all by matching mobility-impaired people with travelers seeking to lend their support. A number of solutions also target seniors via platforms for exchange, fostering social links and inclusion (Senior Senior), and homecare service innovations (Nodeus, Click & Care, Lilismart). Lastly, several start-ups presented their solutions designed to facilitate digital access (Konexio, Les Descodeuses).
Drawing on data and new technologies to personalize education and training
Identified by French people as the areas that could most benefit from digital, the themes of education, young people and vocational training were also largely present at this third edition of the Vivatech. While certain GovTech startups revisit training materials using augmented reality for enhanced, personalized educational content (Foxar), others seek to make academic support more accessible through artificial intelligence (Yokimi), facilitate relations among pupils, parents and teachers (Prof en poche), or renew academic counselling (Pixis).
Responding to new security challenges through artificial intelligence and virtual reality
Around ten GovTech startups working in the field of Defense & Security presented some interesting innovations at this year’s event. In today’s complex security context, some startups have developed intelligent video processing solutions, while others focus on innovative solutions based on the IoT (Aquilae, Heropolis, Geoide, XXII Group). These solutions aim to strengthen capabilities in terms of law enforcement, preventing and combating terrorism, border control and people flow optimization. These are all the more relevant given the number of upcoming global events (such as the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games).
Tech to optimize user experiences and facilitate citizen consultation
Lastly, in the sphere of civic tech, a mention goes to the Voxcracy startup, which provides a digital citizen consensus-building solution based on blockchain technology. In terms of improving user experiences, solutions from Sweepin, Affluences and Toutes mes aides offer greater customization possibilities to facilitate access to public services.
Far from being at odds with general interest concerns, technology is now, through GovTech companies, increasingly present in the public sphere, allowing citizens to take full advantage of these new technologies. This thriving European market now provides significant opportunities for meeting today’s major challenge of simplifying – and improving the accessibility of – every facet of public action. These opportunities must be seized!
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Loline Bertin