This subsidy will be offered by the Région Île-de-France, with the winner also joining the unique Software République incubator program to assist in developing their project with the aid of the six founding partner companies. The challenge was launched whilst Software République were exhibiting at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.
The ‘AI for Urban Mobility’ challenge
This Call for Projects is aimed at researchers, innovators, start-ups, and anyone who knows how to process data and wants to improve urban and peri-urban mobility in the Île-de-France region.
The objective is to imagine an innovative mobility solution using AI and light vehicles by proposing the following projects:
- Solutions which facilitate intermodal passenger experiences, specifically with regards to journeys between public transport and light electric vehicles.
- New car-sharing services.
- Services to optimise and facilitate the use of charging stations / electric infrastructures.
- Solutions for organising last-mile logistics.
- And more generally, any service that will facilitate increased use of cleaner mobility solutions around Mobilize vehicles and public transport.
A ‘powered by Mobilize’ initiative
Each project must be based around the use of the following assets:
- "Duo" and "Bento": the two future light vehicles being developed by Mobilize, the Renault Group brand dedicated to new mobility. 100% electric and ultra-compact, Duo and Bento have been designed for the shared mobility of people and goods in urban areas.
- Anonymized and aggregated data from all Renault Group connected vehicles.
With this data, the project should make it possible to optimise travel in urban and peri-urban areas around the concept of Maas (Mobility as a Service).
The €500K grant from the Région Île-de-France
The jury, composed of members of the six Software République partners and the Région Île-de-France, will select innovative solutions which are applicable to the Région Île-de-France and demonstrate a potential for repeatability. The Île-de-France is one of the most attractive regions in Europe for direct international investment, and benefits from one of the most attractive AI ecosystems.
As Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France Region, comments: " our desire is clear: to make the Région Île-de-France the European leader in strategic innovations. This challenge has a dual purpose: to contribute to the emergence of European leaders in AI applied to industry by offering them the opportunity to collaborate with world leaders in their fields, and to put the potential offered by Artificial Intelligence at the service of major societal issues such as mobility.’
Software République: An open innovation ecosystem
Founded by six partner companies: Atos, Dassault Systèmes, Orange, Renault Group, STMicroelectronics and Thales – Software République is an open innovation ecosystem dedicated to smart, secure and sustainable mobility. Since its creation in April 2021, Software République has conducted 5 challenges with innovators around the world. The results so far are over 200 applications received, with 11 startups incubated.
Participants can register on the Software République website and apply between January 5 and February 10, 2023, with a proposal detailing their project including their investment, from the data made available and the reference vehicles, Mobilize Duo and Bento.
