Posted 7 Feb. 2022 at 12:10Updated Feb 11. 2022 at 04:19 PM
Four months after the laying of the first stone, the agenda of the future digital center of Sarcelles (Val-d’Oise) is becoming clearer. On March 10, the first meeting of the local council responsible for the governance of this structure, which is currently under construction, will be held face-to-face. Supported by the Roissy Pays de France conurbation, the digital center, also called Numixs station following a vote on social networks, will support companies and individuals in their digital transition. The circular building, with a total area of 2,550 square meters, will be located just a few hundred meters from the IUT of Cergy Paris University.
“We have the tools, the professionals”
First objective: to structure an ecosystem of initiatives already well anchored in the territory. “We will first implement what we already have there,” explains Charles Soufir, vice-president of the Roissy Pays de France conurbation, in charge of digital and new technologies.
The Numixs incubator, created two years ago, is thus ready to move with the thirty start-ups it supports. It will be followed by the faclab’s 3D printers and laser cutter. This third place, now located in the IUT of Cergy Pontoise, has been providing students and residents with all kinds of cutting-edge machines for a year. “Our strength for the digital house is that we are not starting from scratch. Our mechanics are already well oiled with the incubator and the faclab. We have the tools, the professionals”, resumes the vice-president.
Then 528 m will be added2 of corporate offices and 260 m2 of coworking space, a 3D visualization room and a relaxation area. “We will also have an auditorium, in which we will host conferences, training and workshops for companies and individuals. We will address very different topics, ranging from the digitization of companies to the discovery of digital professions”, adds Charles Soufir.
Create an ecosystem beyond Sarcelles
In parallel with the Numixs station in Sarcelles, the Roissy Pays de France conurbation is deploying a social inclusion strategy around digital technology, as close as possible to the 350,000 inhabitants: the “Numixs labs”. These fixed or mobile third places, distributed in the agglomeration will act as relays of the digital house. They will thus transcribe certain conferences or workshops for businesses or residents. Thanks to this network, the agglomeration hopes to promote the new jobs of the digital transition while developing the entrepreneurial dynamic of the territory.
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“The house will be constantly evolving”
Although the agglomeration has not yet positioned itself on the associative character or not of the Numixs station, the governance is already defined. Every three months, a local council of around twenty people will meet to redefine future projects: “Everything is changing very quickly on these issues: we are already being offered NFTs and Metavers! The house will be constantly evolving. I know in advance that very quickly, other training and incubation spaces will be needed,” stresses Charles Soufir. To anticipate these changes, stakeholders from the company, residents, representatives of public authorities and students will be brought together.
There is also the question of the financing of the station. With regard to construction, the agglomeration can count on the support of the region, the department and the European Union -via the FEDER program-, which will finance 50% of the 9 million euros required. “We are always on the lookout for new sponsors, and we haven’t said our last word: there are other funding mechanisms,” assures Charles Soufir. The exploitation of the land was offered by the IUT of Cergy Pontoise.
To then cover operating costs, Roissy Pays de France relies on private companies, through the rental of offices and the use of the coworking space. However, we will have to wait a few more months for the first cash inflows: the delivery of the Numixs station, postponed by a quarter due to the health crisis, is scheduled for March 2023.
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