Metavers, Web3 and inclusion, Nicolas Parpex, pilot of Bpifrance's Touch plan, shares three trends he observed during the 2022 edition of South by Southwest (SXSW).

The South By Southwest has made a comeback in physics, after two years of online conferences. Many personalities jostled in the streets of Austin, Texas to discuss the latest technological and societal advances that are about to turn our lives upside down. Nicolas Parpex, Director of the Cultural and Creative Industries (ICC) investment division and pilot of the Touch plan at Bpifrance, looks back on three striking trends of this 36th edition of the Texas festival.

1- Metavers: “the time for experimentation”

Anything but a buzzword ". The metaverse was one of the most talked about topics at last SXSW. If it is not yet part of our daily lives, it could quickly be the case. But for this “vision of the future” to become a reality, many challenges must be addressed. " We still have to equip people with equipment, develop the appropriate infrastructures, create the appropriate content and experiences, define the economic models but also have a regulatory framework. All these are brakes to be lifted », explains Nicolas Parpex.

Many players have taken over these topics like Meta, Microsoft, Roblox, etc. Despite everything, the articulation of these different issues will take time. " Meta, one of the most committed actors, speaks of a roadmap of 10 to 15 years. The Head of Content of the American firm speaks of a time of experimentation ". For the pilot of the Touch plan, France has a role to play in the creation of a metaverse ecosystem. It must also be a pioneer and leader in the production of content and experiences. " It is a factor of acceleration of the transversality between the verticals of the Touch ».

Nicolas Parpex's message to Touch companies : "IYou have to experiment, take risks, be bold on the content and the experience part. The gaming sector is more advanced on the subject because it knows how to manage digital platforms such as persistent virtual universes, monetize in this universe and create experiences. It's a long way, but we must not lose it »

2- Web3 and NFT: “the advent of the creator economy”

Le Web3 was all the talk at SXSW. " This opening movement will largely decentralize the Internet, allowing individuals to regain control over their identity and data. The Web3 creates a real model of ownership on the Internet, which combines economics, art, technology in an incredibly interesting way “said Sandy Carter, the former vice president of Amazon Web Services in her presentation “Web3, NFT, Metaverse! 3 Easy Steps To Get Started".

Several players are taking up the subject, in particular via the NFTs. " We feel that there is a real transforming revolution: the creation of an ecosystem based on non-fungible digital assets », says Nicolas Parpex for whom the use cases are being written, both by communities of creators and large companies. The startup Doodles thus demonstrated the possibility of creating a brand from a collection of NFTs. " It is not only the brands that will make NFTs of their product, but the NFTs that will be able to become physical products and end up on classic valuation circuits ". This data must be integrated by audiovisual producers, publishers, fashion brands, etc. to decline their intellectual property and their range of products in NFT. For example, more and more designers are working digitally. " Selling digital boards in NFT is a concrete example of a utility value of the NFT which replaces a utility value that had disappeared. For Nicolas Parpex, we are also seeing a movement, that of creators or communities of creators who will develop artistic NFTs or wearables (connected clothing or accessories, editor's note) that we did not see coming. " This is the principle of web 3, which is the advent of the economy of creators ».

Nicolas Parpex's message to Touch companies : " Touch companies must have an NFT strategy. We must not let ourselves be clouded by the speculative aspect of the subject and return to the value in use. Experiment, without being too gimmicky and define strong value propositions. »

3- Diversity and inclusion: between societal challenge and business opportunity

Beyond technological innovations, societal and ethical issues have irrigated many speeches, such as questions of diversity and inclusion. " It's more of a background than a trend. In the United States, the discourse is much more uninhibited on these subjects ofempowerment. », explains Nicolas Parpex. In a context of freedom of speech, the discussions around these subjects at SXSW tried to demonstrate the value of integrating different points of view to create a better society.

Failing to exploit the potential of diversity means depriving ourselves of both creative talent and new outlets. Several players are seizing the issue of inclusion to create a business and open up new markets. " Today, there are video game controllers suitable for people with disabilities. In the United States, an eyewear brand has designed frames designed specifically for the morphology of African-American faces. On a completely different subject, many fashion brands now offer collections of clothing or accessories. gender fluid”.

Nicolas Parpex's message to Touch companies : " Diversity and inclusion, like climate change issues, is more than a moral and ethical issue. We can talk about a value proposition. This is a real opportunity for Touch brands »

Photo: Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta, is interviewed by video by Daymond John, CEO and founder of FUBU and CEO of The Shark Group, during the conference 'Into the Metaverse: Creators, Commerce and Connection'.