Working for a territory means participating in the definition and implementation of a social project. During the last French municipal, departmental, and regional elections, the abstention rate was high. How should this be analyzed? Is the current model based on “representative democracy” (voters going to the polls and choosing their representative…) outdated? Is it necessary to rethink the notion of “living together”? Are the models that involve citizens in decision-making outdated? So how can we revive the desire to contribute and be co-actors in local life among the stakeholders concerned, in the midst of a crisis of confidence and in these times of uncertainty?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The notion of innovation often refers to technology. In my profession, innovation is territorial or it is not… It is based on networking, the creation of synergies, and the cohabitation of ecosystems. Technology then becomes a tool that facilitates the birth of innovation. In my opinion, territorial innovation is a new response to a social challenge. It must respond to an identified local problem and mobilize all the local actors involved.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Territorial innovation allows for the development of more equality and balance between territories. By relying on their specificities and strengths, local authorities, alone or by associating with others, can reinvent local services. Territorial innovation is a fantastic opportunity for local authorities because it values and highlights the collective. The ability to involve all stakeholders is an important point. The role of the executive is therefore decisive: it becomes the catalyst for good practices and “producing together.” In these times of budgetary constraints, local authorities must be able to “do better with less – or even much less”! Furthermore, when the local authority decides to engage in an innovation process, it can accompany it with internal work that allows it to release the creativity of its agents, prevent them from self-censoring, and detect talents, particularly among generations Y and Z who are just waiting for it and have been trained in “project methodology” since university.
And finally, when the local authority is able to integrate the benefits of new technologies and the ability to integrate new funding methods into this process, territorial innovation is guaranteed!
To be continued in the next episode… #teasing
