Francois Jégou coordinates URBACT networks supporting European cities to learn from each other on topics such as « Sustainable Food in Urban Communities », « REFILL the city through temporary use of vacant spaces », « BIOCANTEENS, cities with 100% local organic canteens ».

François created and leads the Brussels-based sustainable innovation lab Strategic Design Scenarios with 25 years of experience in  design for social innovation and public policy, participative scenario building and new product-services system definition. François is active in various fields and research projects from investigating social innovation for sustainable living in China, India, Brazil and Africa with UNEP to European research projects focussing sustainable lifestyles 2050, exploring the future of innovation or involving citizens in the orientation of European research agenda.

Next challenge: curating an exhibition on « Collaborative Cities » within Lille 2020, World Design Capital event

François is professor of design at La Cambre, Brussels, Design manager of the Laboratory of Uses and Innovative Practices of the City of Design of Saint-Etienne and co-founder of the DESIS international network of Design Schools for Social Innovation and Development sustainable. 

Its latest publication, Social Innovation in Cities, reviews how the more than 500 cities that have participated in URBACT Thematic Networks are changing their governance processes to better engage with citizens and local stakeholders.