Europcar Mobility Group is forming a partnership between its Mobility Lab and Plug And Play, a long-standing incubator with roots in Silicon Valley.

Europcar Mobility Group intends to leverage the Plug And Play Smart Cities platform to identify mobility solutions, while supporting start-ups participating in the Smart Cities program.

The initial program dedicated to Smart Cities on the Plug And Play platform is slated to be launched in Q1 2019. This three-month program aims to establish links between innovative start-ups working in the fields of mobility, Internet of Things, construction and real estate, and corporate partners looking to develop new services for their clients. The “Pitch Day” will take place on Feb. 13, with 30 start-ups presenting their projects in the hope of being selected for the acceleration phase.

Nicolas Bailleux, who recently joined Europcar Mobility Group as head of the Mobility Lab, will oversee the partnership.

Bailleux has more than 15 years of experience in the fields of digital technologies and e-commerce, having worked with international companies in France, Ireland, and the U.K. He held various management positions at eBay, and served as chief marketplace officer for Videdressing.com. He began his career as a consultant at Roland Berger.

At Europcar Mobility Group, Bailleux is responsible for developing a variety of initiatives and innovation projects in support of the Group’s transformation strategy.

The Mobility Lab, which was created in 2014, was a catalyst for the Group’s transformation: from a single-brand, pure-play company specializing in vehicle rental to a “mobility service company” offering a wide range of mobility services and solutions. The goal today is to continue and intensify the Mobility Lab’s contribution to the Group’s various business units, both concerning its traditional vehicle-rental business and in the field of new mobilities.

The partnership with Plug & Play is among the very first initiatives in this regard.