The Third Industrial Revolution is a concept developped by Jeremy Rifkin. As for the two previous ones (the first one with coal and steam engine, the second one with oil and electricity), the Third Industrial Revolution, based on energy transition and digital technologies, changes the world, our way of living, produce, consume, move...
Interview with Magali Tribondeau, Entreprise councillor within Hauts-de-France coastal Chamber of commerce and industry (France)
Magali Tribondeau, you work for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the French coast of Dover Strait. The approach of the CCI in the framework of the Third Industrial Revolution in Hauts-de-France has been selected as an exemplary practice for support to low-carbon innovation and entrepreneurship by PASSAGE partners. Can you explain what this is about?
Since 2013 and the implementation of a regional Master plan, we provide support to every project which fits in one of the pillars of the Third industrial revolution. It is a new economy, a new dynamism so we support all the new initiatives emerging.
In this framework, you have developed several funding mechanisms. Can you explain how you proceed exactly to fund innovative projects of the territory and support enterprises?
When a new project arrives, we define together with the project’s holder the axes of development, of improvement and the possible funding modes. We can use subsidies, participative funding or subsidised bank loan. We can also use the CAP3RI fund, set up by at the end of 2015 by several partners (Hauts-de-France Regional Council, Crédit Agricole Nord-de-France, European Investment Bank, Groupama Nord-Est) and dedicated to the Third Industrial Revolution. Each project is different, but various solutions exist to grow in power these actions.
The Third Industrial Revolution is an important change of paradigm. What are the main difficulties you face? Are all enterprises ready to commit to this approach?
Not all enterprises are ready to get involved in this revolution. Every entity needs to do its own revolution and take time to think about what can be implemented in a first time to start and move on with a broader reflection on its development strategy. This, obviously, takes time and cannot be reached in one day. This is mainly this time for thinking that is long.
There is also an issue regarding innovation: revolution means breaking with today’s model. But this implies technological breaks, which sometimes face regulation constraints that can limit experimentations and stop new technologies present on the territory.
Why is this a success? What is the margin for progress?
The main success is to have succeed in gathering political representatives, economic leaders, academics and all the people who feel involved in this approach. This is a substantive approach and everyone needs to find its count. This approach is voluntary and collaborative and this is in this spirit that we will manage to imagine a better world for tomorrow.
Hauts-de-France region, with its mining and industrial past, is a very specific territory. Do you think a similar approach can be implemented in other territories with different features? What would you advice?
The model developed by J. Rifkin is adaptable. It should not be seen as an end itself but as a tool to be appropriated on a specific territory. Other regions and cities have understood that. The point is that everyone can benefit from the experience of the other and vice-versa. We are in an on-going improvement process and we can learn from every experience, even if this is developed on another territory.
Thank you!
To know more about the Third Industrial Revolution in Hauts-de-France, visit rev3.fr
