DEDALE | Urban and social innovation

Who we are

DEDALE
Cultural and Urban Innovation Lab for Citizen-Led Transitions

Dédale is a Paris-based cultural and urban innovation lab committed to urban and social innovation, citizen participation and the ecological transformation of cities. Since 2004, Dédale has developed a hybrid approach combining strategic consulting, field-based experimentation and European cooperation.

The organisation works with public authorities, urban stakeholders, researchers, cultural actors, local communities and citizen groups to imagine, test and implement new approaches to sustainable and inclusive urban transitions.

What we offer

• An open-air experimental area for participative and inclusive projects: L'Ilot Fertile (north-east of Paris). Location: between Paris and the suburbs, at the heart of public strategies: urban inclusion and development policies, zero unemployment area, circular district, etc.

• Projects focusing on ecological transition (energy, urban agriculture, biodiversity, food, circular economy, etc.),digital projects (smart citizens, inclusion, education, governance, etc.), projects linked to urban regeneration and the transformation of public spaces (urban design, citizen engagement, living together, identity and territorial appropriation, etc.).

• Existing participative pilots

  • “Terroir urbain” (urban agriculture, biodiversity, food, etc.) - www.terroir-urbain.fr

  • “Back to the future” (digital storytelling in the city, heritage and territorial identity, etc.) - https://bit.ly/3XPfifq

  • “Public domain” Co-design of local public spaces, neighborhood signage, creative street furniture, cultural and touristic itineraries for peripheral area...)

Testing different kind of projects in a neighborhood allows us to address the urban challenges at a small scale and including the citizen community in the changes that affects them directly. The advantage of the pilot projects we have have already tried out at Rosa Parks neighborhood (north east of Paris), is that they can be replicated in other cities with similar urban challenges in France and Europe, always considering their own specificities and adapting the project to the environment and the population needs in every particular case.

Why choose us?

At Dédale, we are passionately committed to driving urban and social innovation. We believe in harnessing creativity and technological advancements to enhance the quality of life for all and empower individuals to actively participate in shaping their environments. Together, we strive to build resilient urban spaces that foster inclusivity and social cohesion.