by Cleopatra Gatti | A new ecosystem of open innovation involving leading companies in the software and other sectors. We are talking about the initiative that has seen Elie Girard, Bernard Charlès, Luca de Meo, Jean-Marc Chery and Patrice Caine, respectively CEOs of Atos, Dassault SystèmesGroupe Renault, STMicroelectronics and Thales, respectively, joined forces to create Software République, a new ecosystem aimed at innovation in the field of intelligent mobility. By pooling their complementary expertise, the partners plan to jointly develop and commercialise systems and software to deliver richer, more sustainable mobility to cities, regions, businesses and citizens. Artificial intelligence, cyber security, connectivity, embedded electronics and virtual twin technology will contribute to the excellence of these new products and services. This open innovation ecosystem, founded by five leaders in the automotive and technology sectors, will be ready to welcome new members and develop open collaborations.
A question of sovereignty
The mobility sector is evolving and offers new opportunities. According to the Boston Consulting Group, the global mobility market will grow by 60% by 2035, reaching a value of EUR 11 trillion.
The main driver of this growth is the emergence of radical technological changes (electric vehicles, new components, new after-sales services and other value-added services) whose share of the global mobility market will increase from 5% to 45%. Major industrial players on other continents, with government support, are already positioning themselves to develop many of these new technologies by implementing enhanced integration strategies. Today, the founding members of the Software République are expressing the urgency for France and Europe as a whole to build a sustainable ecosystem together, aiming to secure their sovereignty in this field.
Three areas of cooperation in software
In order to jointly develop and market intelligent mobility systems, enabling the realisation of an adapted and agile mobility offer, three main areas of cooperation have been identified:
- intelligent systems that facilitate secure connectivity between the vehicle and its digital and physical environment;
- Simulation and data management systems that optimise flows in relation to territories and companies;
- an energy ecosystem that simplifies battery charging.
Currently, the Software République partners are discussing Plug & Charge, i.e. the development of new technologies and services that allow an electric car connected to a compatible charging point to be automatically detected and recharged without any intervention by the user, and the optimisation of mobility flows in relation to territories to facilitate access to and simulation of mobility information exchanges, instantly and openly between cities and geographical regions.
Investments and financing
To promote innovation, the Software République will also work through the creation of a specific investment fund to finance the most promising start-ups and an incubator for start-ups in the field of smart mobility technologies, where these companies will have access to an experimental and collaborative virtual development environment and mentoring through a value network.
For the launch of the ecosystem for startups and universities, the Software République partners are already planning to launch a data challenge to contribute to the development of technologies that will enable the mobility of the future, which will be electric, connected and autonomous.
You might also be interested in:
