Angers Launches Phase 2 of Smart Territory Project
- Angers, France — Angers Loire Métropole is gearing up to enter the next stage of its ambitious "intelligent territory" project in 2026, placing a renewed emphasis on citizen...
- The move marks the halfway point of the metropolis's 12-year global performance market initiative, launched in 2020.
- Mayor of Angers and President of the Métropole, Christophe Béchu, said the second phase will capitalize on the experience gained over the past decade.
Angers Loire Métropole to Launch Citizen-Focused Phase of Smart City Project
Table of Contents
- Angers Loire Métropole to Launch Citizen-Focused Phase of Smart City Project
- Angers Loire Métropole’s Smart City Project: A Citizen-Focused Approach
- What is the “Intelligent Territory” Project in Angers, France?
- What is the focus of the Angers Smart City project?
- what were the main objectives of the first phase of the project?
- What key applications were implemented during the first phase?
- What is the role of AI in the Angers Smart City project?
- What is the “Intelligent Territory Forum”?
- How will citizens be involved in the project?
- What new skills are required for the project?
- Where will the project’s central hub be located?
- How will this co-location benefit the project?
- Key Phases of Angers Smart City project
Angers, France — Angers Loire Métropole is gearing up to enter the next stage of its ambitious “intelligent territory” project in 2026, placing a renewed emphasis on citizen engagement.
The move marks the halfway point of the metropolis’s 12-year global performance market initiative, launched in 2020. With a budget of €146 million, the project aims to create a connected adn enduring urban environment.
A Decade of Data: Shifting Focus to Software and Citizens
Mayor of Angers and President of the Métropole, Christophe Béchu, said the second phase will capitalize on the experience gained over the past decade. The focus will shift from hardware implementation to software progress and, crucially, involving residents in shaping the project’s future.
the initial phase of the global performance market was undertaken by a consortium including Ineo Equans, Suez, La Poste, and the VYV group. Thier objectives included accelerating ecological transition, modernizing public services, and adapting to the evolving needs of the population.
Constance Nebbula, municipal councilor delegated to digital transition and vice-president of Angers Loire Métropole, emphasized the project’s core mission. ”It is not a technological project but a political project to transform the city by connected and sustainable territory solutions,” Nebbula stated.
Early efforts focused on building the necessary IT infrastructure across the 29 municipalities within the Métropole. A cyberattack in 2021 necessitated a complete overhaul of the data system.
Smart City Infrastructure: from Lighting to Waste Management
The first phase saw the implementation of eight key applications:
- Public Lighting
- Energy Management of Buildings
- Safety Systems
- Intelligent Watering of Green Spaces
- Tricolor Signaling
- Parking Management
- Waste Management
- Water Management
A digital twin of the territory was also created to aid in decision-making, especially for urban development projects.
Béchu noted the transition underway: “We have almost finished dealing with hardware, we will be able to focus on software.”
“Intelligent Territory forum”: A Hub for Citizen Input
Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to play a significant role in the project’s future. Following the publication of its data strategy in December 2023, Angers Métropole is developing an AI strategy, assisted by the Think tank Urban AI.
Nebbula highlighted the need for a clear framework: “With the explosion of AI subjects, we need a framework to clarify our vision and our limits, especially as with intelligent territory, we brew a lot of data.And before getting started, we must educate all agents.”
Béchu added that the city is working with ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, to develop an AI system focused on intelligent territory data.
In January 2026, the teams dedicated to the intelligent territory project will relocate to the former Banque de France site in Angers. This site will become the central hub, housing both the steering center and the urban supervision center of the municipal police. This co-location will facilitate the development of integrated services, particularly in video surveillance and crisis management. The surveillance workforce will also be doubled to ensure 24/7 monitoring.
Guillaume Cesbron, head of the Angers Loire Métropole piloting center, noted the evolving skillsets required: “The intelligent territory project transforms our professions. We now need data analysts or cybersecurity experts.”
A key element of the second phase is increased citizen involvement. “We will inaugurate in six months our ‘intelligent territory forum,’ a space on the ground floor of the Métamorphose building,” Béchu announced.
this forum, managed by Equans, will serve as a demonstration center for the Angers intelligent territory project. It will host schoolchildren for digital education and allow visitors to interact with a digital twin of the city, similar to that used by technical services, to test various scenarios.
Béchu concluded, “This forum will be the place of co-construction of uses. The time of technicians is soon over, to make way for citizens.”
Angers Loire Métropole’s Smart City Project: A Citizen-Focused Approach
What is the “Intelligent Territory” Project in Angers, France?
The “intelligent territory” project is an ambitious initiative by Angers Loire Métropole, a metropolitan area in France, aimed at creating a connected and enduring urban environment. launched in 2020, it’s a 12-year endeavor with a budget of €146 million. The project is designed to leverage technology to improve public services, promote ecological transition, and adapt to the evolving needs of the population.
What is the focus of the Angers Smart City project?
The project’s core mission is to transform the city through connected and sustainable territory solutions. The initial phase focused on the implementation of hardware and IT infrastructure. The second phase, starting in 2026, will shift the focus to software progress and, crucially, involve residents in shaping the project’s future.
what were the main objectives of the first phase of the project?
The first phase aimed to achieve the following:
- Accelerating ecological transition.
- Modernizing public services.
- Adapting to the evolving needs of the population.
What key applications were implemented during the first phase?
The first phase saw the implementation of eight key applications:
- Public Lighting
- energy Management of Buildings
- Safety Systems
- Intelligent Watering of Green Spaces
- Tricolor Signaling
- Parking Management
- Waste Management
- Water Management
What is the role of AI in the Angers Smart City project?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to play a critically important role in the future of the project. Following the publication of its data strategy in December 2023, Angers Métropole is developing an AI strategy, supported by the Think tank urban AI. The city is working with ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, to develop an AI system centered on intelligent territory data.
What is the “Intelligent Territory Forum”?
The “intelligent territory forum” is a presentation center in the Métamorphose building,scheduled to open in six months from the time of the article’s publication. It will serve as a space for digital education for schoolchildren and allow visitors to interact with a digital twin of the city to test various scenarios.
How will citizens be involved in the project?
Citizen involvement is a key element of the second phase. The “intelligent territory forum” will be a place of co-construction where citizens can provide input on the use of the technologies. The project emphasizes the shift from a technician-focused approach to one centered on citizen participation.
What new skills are required for the project?
The intelligent territory project transforms the required skillsets. There is a growing need for data analysts and cybersecurity experts.
Where will the project’s central hub be located?
In January 2026,the teams dedicated to the intelligent territory project will relocate to the former Banque de France site in angers. This site will become the central hub, housing both the steering center and the urban supervision center of the municipal police.
How will this co-location benefit the project?
The co-location will facilitate the growth of integrated services, especially in video surveillance and crisis management. The surveillance workforce will also be doubled to ensure 24/7 monitoring.
Key Phases of Angers Smart City project
| Phase | Focus | Key Activities | timeline/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | hardware implementation, IT infrastructure | implementing 8 key applications (Public Lighting, etc.),Creating a digital twin | Completed or nearing completion |
| Phase 2 | Software,Citizen Engagement | Developing AI strategy,Launching “Intelligent Territory Forum” | Starting in 2026 |