23 March 2017 - 4 min read

Conference report: Data from Connected Objects: Tomorrow, a new world?

Conference report: Data from Connected Objects: Tomorrow, a new world?

On March 22, 2017, the Bpifrance Hub room was filled with people attending the Conference on Data from Connected Objects.





Analyst forecasts may vary, but their general observation remains the same: there are more connected objects in the world today than people; every year sees double-digit growth; and the volume of produced data can be measured in zettabytes, with global economic impact in trillions of dollars.

There is most certainly a technological (r)evolution taking place, made possible by numerous factors such as miniaturization, low sensor production costs, minimal energy consumption, and the emergence of dedicated new networks. The revolution is not merely technological. It is also societal and cultural, as it deeply impacts our lifestyles, production methods, ways of working, and our relationships with others.

While numerous benefits are expected for citizens and consumers, companies also see these new data sources as an unprecedented opportunity to discover new potential for value through processing, sharing within ecosystems, and monetizing data generated by the Internet of Things. A practically unexplored new world is opening for companies, a world of data from connected objects waiting to be discovered.

There are also many challenges. Among them, security issues are all the more critical given the radically growing number of access points. IoT ecosystem stakeholders thus have a greater responsibility to control and secure data collection and distribution circuits. Public authorities must also work to implement an adapted and well-balanced regulatory framework. They must provide guarantees for citizens concerned with their security and respect for their private lives, while encouraging this fantastic accelerator of innovation and economic growth that connected objects represent. Another challenge faces all private and public-sector entities involved with IoT projects, notably the fair distribution of the impact and economic weight of data at each link in the IoT value chain.

Only a global, integrated approach can provide solutions that match the stakes, implying the involvement of political leaders, regulatory bodies, industrialists, researchers, financiers, and startups, in addition to representatives of civil society. These considerations will serve as the backdrop for speakers at the Data & IoT Conference organized by Dawex on March 22, 2018 (program and registration here). Hailing from highly diverse backgrounds, speakers will share their knowledge, field experience, and vision regarding the future of IoT and data. A future that we can build together.

The following video presents highlights from the Conference on Data from Connected Objects organized by Dawex, the global data marketplace, featuring presentations by Bernard Benhamou, Cécile Wendling, Gabrielle Gauthey, Fabrice Tocco, Laurent Lafaye, and more.

Fabrice TOCCO – CEO and Co-founder - Dawex

Hello everyone and thank you all for joining us. We are happy to welcome you here at BPI, a symbol of innovation.

20 years after the Internet emerged for the general public, the Internet of Things is now revolutionizing knowledge by sharing intelligence between people and machines, and between machines themselves.

Gartner recently published a study estimating that the direct monetization of data from connected objects would represent about 15 billion dollars within two years. That implies billions of connected objects, whose sole purpose is to generate information for making decisions. Our ability to reveal data has changed fundamentally. So has our ability to store, manage, transform, and distribute data, handle legal rights, and generate value.

Jean-Marc DANIEL – Economist, Teacher at ESCP Europe

Every consumer has become a unique individual, notably thanks to the quality and quantity of data we can collect about them. Consumers determine prices by putting you in competition. Remember your basic micro-economic models: monopolies lead to rising prices, monopsonies lead to lower prices.

Bernard BENHAMOU - Advisor on Internet Governance for the French Delegation at the UN - Secretary General of the Institute of Digital Sovereignty (ISN)

Security measures and higher levels of security will represent a competitive advantage for companies that implement them. They are also a key prerequisite for developing a European Internet of Things that is both secure and protects data. Personal data in particular. It is important to understand that all data from the Internet of Things, including data processed by industry companies and strictly personal data, which often overlap, will need to be increasingly protected. Data protection and data security, now intrinsically linked, must become the European marker for the coming years. As a European trait, they can be a real lever for competitiveness and a competitive advantage for European players.

Charles-Edouard DELPIERRE – Deputy Head of Key Programme Cities, Engie

There is large number of very interesting players in France, including Dawex. That gives the French economy, and us as French stakeholders, the means to invent the future and maintain our independence regarding these digital topics.

Dr. Cécile WENDLING – Associated Researcher at the CNRS, Head of R&D foresight at Axa

Insurance is a highly regulated field and there is data we do not use. Companies have a role to play in explaining and keeping things clear for the public, and in being transparent about what is done with data and what is not. At Axa, we are interested in finding ways to be fair and ethical with our algorithms and to make sure data is used properly.

Gilbert GRENIE – Partner, PwC

The first question is really about what to do with data, notably how to use it and generate value, while making sure the owner is not wronged in the process. How can wealth both be created from data and redistributed to those who are essentially at its origin?

Laurent LAFAYE - Co-founder, Dawex

Dawex is a data marketplace for all companies with data to monetize, as well as for those seeking data. The Internet of Things will clearly bring huge volumes of data to the market, including industry data and data related to individuals. As a data transaction operator, Dawex must remain at the heart of this connected object revolution.

Gabrielle GAUTHEY - Investment and Local development Director, Caisse des Dépôts et des Consignations

The smart city is a major focus for Caisse des Dépôts. Data derived from the IoT and sensors are a major vector for creating value and jobs in territories and for territories. Caisse des Dépôts invested in Dawex to help secure data transactions.