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Living Lab

Our belief

Consumers - and especially cultural creatives- are becoming consum'actors: they no longer accept innovation just for the sake of it, or innovation that "has no meaning" for them. They refuse invasive technology that neglects the human element. High tech, yes, but only if it is associated with high touch! Innovation must therefore be societal, ethical and socially aware. Values are changing, with an increasing awareness that we must imperatively change our collective behaviours, towards greater respect for other people and the planet, and invent new products and solutions.
These were the founding values of the F@brique du Futur, a young association created in 2006 and whose purpose is to reconcile innovation and sustainable development (in the wider sense of the term: in its societal, environmental, socially aware and ethical dimensions…) Its unique positioning is clearly evident. La F@brique du Futur is not another think tank, but rather a "think network" for sticking as closely as possible to what is happening in the field: to think globally while acting locally! The other key idea is to consider that the future is first imagined, then created in the here and now. The future is everyone's affair and does not just concern experts. We therefore constitute an "in vivo" and "in vitro" laboratory for the detection of emerging practises initiated by avant-garde people, among whom cultural creatives are in the forefront.
By starting from the base, and by relaying these new aspirations to R&D and design teams in companies and organisations, the outcome will undoubtedly be concepts that match more closely the true needs and desires of consumers and citizens, thus contributing to creating a better world.

The F@brique du Futur proposes a socially aware approach for accompanying companies and organisations, based on a laboratory of practises in the field of future studies and bottom-up innovation .

The F@brique du Futur association is intended to promote foresight studies and innovations that are:

Responsible, reconciling science and technology with "sustainable development"

Sustainable development and prospective studies too often ignore one another. We want to introduce cross-fertilisation between these two disciplines, by working on desirable development.

Polymorphous and open

We are interested in future studies and innovation in all areas. Innovation is not only high-tech, there is also low tech, societal, socially aware innovation in the city, services for the community, services for people,…

Transdisciplinary

In a knowledge based economy and in a complex, rapidly changing world, it is necessary to look for links between different disciplines, to be imaginative and in touch with the world, to reconcile the right side with the left side of the brain.

Imaginative, but concrete and operational

The future is something to be imagined and desired before it takes shape. We recommend approaches based on creativity, optimism, the desirable, the dream…

Pragmatic because rooted in reality

The F@brique du Futur thinks globally but acts locally, in close contact with the field thanks to its network of experts and consultants, it is deployed as a network within territories.

"Having meaning"

Far from focusing on short-term trends and fads, we identify fundamental trends and subtle signals announcing disruptive changes.

Collaborative and participative

Consumers, users, citizens… are the first concerned by new offers designed by companies and organisations since they are intended for them. Having an enhanced awareness of the need to collectively open resolutely innovative routes, they know they have a responsibility to co-invent a better future, thanks to horizontal and bottom-up innovation.