Perspectives from Descartes Développement & Innovation on the Future of Sustainable Cities

As urbanization continues to surge, cities around the world face unprecedented challenges—climate change, resource scarcity, air pollution, and the urgent need for sustainable infrastructure. The question isn’t just how to grow, but how to grow smarter, greener, and more resilient.

Tech Tour GreenCity 2025, taking place on March 25, 2025, in Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, is where these challenges meet solutions. It is a platform where visionary startups, forward-thinking investors, and industry leaders come together to address the pressing issues of urban energy, sustainable construction, mobility, and healthy urban neighborhoods.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jean-Christophe de Tauzia to explore how Descartes Développement & Innovation (DDI) is contributing to this mission. Read on for a glimpse into their vision for sustainable urban development, their role in empowering startups, and why Tech Tour GreenCity 2025 is a critical step towards building cities that are not just bigger but better for future generations.

TT: Your organization is hosting the upcoming Tech Tour GreenCity 2025 in Paris – why did you choose to support the event and how do you see the value it creates?

JT:  At Descartes Développement & Innovation, we believe that sustainable urban transformation requires strong collaboration between startups, investors, and policymakers. Tech Tour GreenCity 2025 is the ideal platform to connect key players, accelerate funding opportunities, and bring high-impact innovations to life. Paris, a global hub for green innovation, provides the perfect setting for this event.

TT: Could you share with us more about Descartes Développement & Innovation and how it supports startups in building sustainable cities?

JT: As the economic development agency of Descartes Innovation Campus, France’s leading hub for sustainable cities, DDI supports startups, SMEs, and researchers through incubation, R&I collaboration, funding access, and networking. Our Descartes Incubator & Fablab provide the tools and expertise to turn ideas into market-ready solutions, bridging the gap between innovation and large-scale urban adoption.

TT: Sustainable cities need to balance environmental, social, and economic goals. What are some exciting innovations you’ve seen in this field, and how does DDI help bring these solutions to life?

JT:  DDI supports breakthrough startups transforming urban sustainability:
• Sustainable Construction & Eco-Materials: Neolitik (recycled construction materials), Vestack (modular low-carbon buildings).
• Green Infrastructure & Urban Cooling: SH Design Aglaé (bioluminescent plants), Urban Cooling Solutions (nature-based cooling tech).
• Circular Economy & Waste Management: Coat-ing (eco-friendly material coatings), Valortri (data-driven waste optimization).
• Water & Environmental Monitoring: Fluidion (real-time water quality monitoring), Predict Analyse (AI for environmental risk anticipation).
• Smart Cities & Resilient Infrastructure: Holis (urban digital twins), Sitowie (predictive maintenance for buildings), Themacs Ingénierie (energy-efficient urban planning).
Through funding, R&D resources, and strategic partnerships, we help these innovations move from concept to large-scale deployment.

TT: Your organization runs the Descartes Incubator and Fablab. Can you share a success story of a startup that has made an impact?

JT:   A great example is Urban Canopee, which develops modular plant structures to fight urban heat islands. With support from DDI’s incubator and Fablab, they refined their technology, secured funding, and formed partnerships with city planners. Today, their solutions are deployed in multiple cities, demonstrating how innovation can make urban environments cooler, greener, and more resilient.

TT: Bringing together businesses, investors, and policymakers is key to driving change. How does your organization help make these connections?

JT:   We act as a bridge between key urban innovation players by:
• Hosting networking and investment events like Tech Tour GreenCity 2025.
• Facilitating partnerships between startups, corporates, and municipalities.
• Supporting pilot projects that enable startups to test and scale their solutions in real urban environments.
• By fostering these connections, we accelerate sustainable urban innovation and its real-world impact.

TT: With your extensive experience in financing and innovation strategy, what advice would you give to startups looking for funding and partnerships in the sustainable city sector?

JT:   Here are some insights from my experience:

Demonstrate real-world impact: Investors seek solutions with tangible benefits for cities.
Leverage public-private synergies: Explore government funding, corporate partnerships, and co-financing models.
Start local, think global: Begin with pilot projects to prove your concept before scaling internationally.
Engage with strong ecosystems: Joining incubators, accelerators, and forums like Tech Tour GreenCity 2025 opens doors to funding and strategic connections.

TT: What’s next for Descartes Développement & Innovation? How do you see the future of sustainable cities evolving?

JT:   We are scaling up our initiatives to strengthen urban innovation:
• Expanding the Fablab to enhance prototyping for deep-tech startups.
• Launching an international Climathon, connecting students from Europe and Latin America to tackle shared urban challenges.
• Strengthening the Descartes Innovation Cluster within French Tech, boosting global recognition.
• Pursuing a ‘Cluster Management of Excellence’ label, ensuring best-in-class support for startups.
• Bridging city buyers, corporates, and startups to accelerate real-world adoption of urban innovations.
• Collaboration is key to the cities of tomorrow, and DDI is committed to leading this transformation.

As the challenges of urbanization and climate change intensify, collaboration will be key to building resilient, sustainable, and intelligent cities. At DDI, we are dedicated to fostering an ecosystem where visionary entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers can work together to bring transformative ideas to life.
The future of sustainable cities is being shaped today—and we are excited to be at the forefront of this movement.

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To meet Jean-Christophe de Tauzia, don’t miss the chance to join us at Tech Tour GreenCity 2025 this March in Paris.