Topos R&D project

December 2009

Pertimm applies its semantic expertise to the 1st citizen meeting and participative consultation platform

The purpose of the Topos R&D project is to develop a genuine electronic think-tank, available both online and by cell phone, for administrations and major social, economic and political bodies, aimed at facilitating their relations with the general public.

Creating a new link between political bodies and citizens

One of the 44 prizewinners of the Call for Innovative Web projects, organized in the context of the economic recovery plan, the Topos project is supported by the ADREVA association and developed by an outstanding consortium of three SMCs - Pertimm, Prylos & Ilobjects - and one public laboratory, Lip6.

Topos aims to implement a unique platform enabling public institutions and major social, economic and political meetings and bodies (forums, meetings, agreements, UN, etc.) to poll citizens concerning various topics. The goal: participative consultation, that can be used in various editorial forms (websites, mobile applications, books, exhibitions, magazines, etc.) and to give rise to rich studies and analyses (analysis of dominant opinions and latent issues).

Extending the "link" with the "meaning"

Based on Web 2.0 principles and on work conducted by Carole Lipsyc, author and researcher in the field of analog semantics and digital literature, Topos's salient feature is its semantic dimension, allowing it, beyond the creation of links, to provide meaning and to generate rich and high-quality "content". Pertimm's essential role is to design the platform's architecture and search engine, allowing the data gathered through public consultations to be queried. The cutting edge semantic technology developed by Pertimm shall serve to give meaning and consistency to all data gathered.

The platform, resulting from the 18-month collaborative project involving all Topos participants, should be made available to the general public, both online and by cell phone, before the end of 2011.

This platform's potential shall be not only economic, but also social and cultural, thanks to the wealth and sharing of knowledge and data resulting from public consultations.

About Pertimm

Pertimm was founded in 1997 by a team of three engineers. These product designers pooled their expertise in linguistics, artificial intelligence, databases and real-time operating systems to develop innovative technology supporting high-relevance search tools.

Organizations such as the CNRS, IRSN, NASA, the French Ministry of Defense and the Musée d’Orsay, along with companies such as EADS, the SNCF, Meetic and Pages Jaunes place their trust in Pertimm's expertise to optimize their information systems.

Today, Pertimm has sites in Asnières-sur-Seine (92) and Valence (26), France, as well as in the United States.

In 2009, the company was once again named an Innovative Start-Up by OSEO, following its nomination to the European Fast500, which lists the 500 European high-tech companies that have experienced the fastest growth. Pertimm's growth rate is 560% over 5 years.