About the competition

About the competition

Africa is now a major emerging market. Technological innovation is growing at an exponential rate, stimulating both new practices and new start-ups.

This is why in 2018, urban and economic development agency Euroméditerranée launched a competition aimed at international entrepreneurs, targeting Africa more specifically from 2019, due to the historic links between Africa and Aix-Marseille Provence Metropolis. More successful each year in terms of quality and quantity, MED'INNOVANT AFRICA has already rewarded 5 inspiring and talented startups from Chad, Senegal, Cameroon, and Madagascar.

The purpose of this innovation competition is to identify, promote and accelerate to the next level project developers (start-ups, small and medium enterprises) looking to bring to market innovations (solutions and services) that are in line with the new objectives of the Mediterranean and African sustainable resilient regions - with the potential of deploying them in the catchment area of Euroméditerranée and more broadly Aix-Marseille Provence Metropolis.

The aims of this competition are to :

  • unearth exciting African innovators with the capacity to test out their innovative solutions, where possible, in the EuroméditerranéeEcoCité;
  • Set up these start-ups in the developer's catchment area in view of increasing their market share in Europe;
  • Attract micro-businesses, SMEs and European groups looking to develop their business in Africa

 

What are the themes?

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Driving more resilient and sustainable regions:

  • Social innovation and solidarity mechanisms in the city;
  • Design solutions for assuring continuity of public utilities (energy, water, waste management, etc.);
  • in the event of a crisis, and to reduce the city’s environmental impact;
  • Systems that facilitate urban management and mobility, and cost efficiency.

Improving response capacity:

  • Modular and adaptable urban services or facilities;
  • Early warning and response mechanisms and applications;
  • Solutions or facilities promoting the coordination and interaction of multiple actors.

Facilitating crisis communication at the local level:

  • Services or facilities that contribute to improving information in public spaces, safe communities, and the security of people and property;
  • Contactless technologies, smart objects, mobile apps, etc.

Med'Innovant Africa

What are the benefits for winners?

High-value packages offering long-term support combining A CASH INJECTION, ANS ALL-EXPENSES-PAID* BUSINESS TOUR in Marseille, a two-day PASS FOR EMERGING VALLEY, and a FULL SUPPORT PACKAGE to build concrete foundations for your business, foster links and drive your promotion!

*The competition organiser shall cover the cost of transport and two nights in a hotel for finalists (refer to competition rules)


Prizes attached to the Jury’s Award 

€7,000 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, a real cash boost

BUSINESS TOUR:

  • One-week Business Tour in Marseille to meet the organiser of the Euroméditerranée competition, take part in the EMERGING Valley summit, and attend the Social & Inclusive Business Camp** (SIBC);
  • A personal tour of the Euroméditerranée catchment area with a representative of the development agency to access the potential scope of application for the award-winning innovation.

TWO-DAY EMERGING VALLEY PASS:

  • Full two-day access to the Europe-Med-Africa emerging tech summit: 1,350 participants, 45 countries, 50+ high-impact investors, 140 start-ups, 130 speakers and 50 tech hubs in 2019!
  • A 5-minute pitch at the MED’INNOVANT AFRICA Award ceremony taking place during EMERGING VALLEY

ACCELERATION PACKAGE:

  • A testing ground for trying out and demonstrating the innovative resilience solution: the Euroméditerranée EcoCité (480 hectares within the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 14th and 15th arrondissements of Marseille);
  • A two-hour working session with Euroméditerranée’s CEO to determine the terms and conditions for implementing the award-winning solution within the Euroméditerranée EcoCité’s catchment area;
  • 4 weeks of soft landing within Accélérateur.M based in the CISAM (Innovation & Knowledge Centre of Aix-Marseille);
  • Finalists entered into the SIBC acceleration programme: a high-added-value business camp developed by the AFD. A €1,000-grant will also be awarded by the AFD to the winner of the Jury's Award only;
  • Free legal and oral support as part of its territorial anchoring (sponsorship, monitoring committee) for a total duration of 4 hours usable over a period of 12 months from the date of the award ceremony in the fields following legal: French intellectual property and information technology law and French customs law and,
  • Putting the winner in touch with a lawyer based in his country of location (only if FIDAL has concluded a cooperation agreement with a law firm in the country in which the winner is located).

NETWORK PUSH & PROMOTION

  • AFRICALINK sponsorship: introduction to a business leader in the network, based in the winner’s home country and working in a similar sector;
  • One year’s free membership to the AFRICALINK network;
  • Mentoring: introduction by the CCI AMP to an elected CCI official in the winner’s home country to provide assistance developing the winning solution;
  • A business meeting with the regional development agency Provence Promotion;
  • Promotion: communication campaign in the press, on socials, on the website and at trade fairs;
  • A video interview with the winner presenting their innovation posted on the Euroméditerranée YouTube channel.


Prizes attached to the Jury’s Favourite Award

€ 2,500 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, a real cash boost

BUSINESS TOUR:

- One-week Business Tour in Marseille to meet the organiser of the Euroméditerranée competition, take part in the EMERGING Valley summit, and attend the Social & Inclusive Business Camp** (SIBC).

TWO-DAY EMERGING VALLEY PASS:

  • Full two-day access to the Europe-Med-Africa emerging tech summit: 1,350 participants, 45 countries, 50+ high-impact investors, 140 start-ups, 130 speakers and 50 tech hubs in 2019!
  • A 5-minute pitch at the MED’INNOVANT AFRICA Award ceremony taking place during EMERGING VALLEY

SUPPORT PACKAGE:

  • A 1-hour meeting with the CEO of Euroméditerranée to see how the award-winning solution can be best adapted to the Euroméditerranée EcoCité development area (480 hectares within the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 14th and 15th arrondissements of Marseille);
  • 4 weeks of soft landing within Accélérateur.M based in the CISAM (Innovation & Knowledge Centre of Aix-Marseille);
  • Finalists entered into the SIBC acceleration programme: a high-added-value business camp developed by the AFD. A €1,000-grant will also be awarded by the AFD to the winner of the Jury's Favourite Award only;
  • Legal support from law firm Fidal: two hours of training on intellectual property and information technology law, distribution rights and company law.

NETWORK PUSH & PROMOTION:

  • AFRICALINK sponsorship : introduction to a business leader in the network, based in the winner’s home country and working in a similar sector;
  • One year’s free membership to the AFRICALINK network;
  • Mentoring : introduction by the CCI AMP to an elected CCI official in the winner’s home country to provide assistance developing the winning solution;
  • Promotion : communication campaign in the press, on socials, on the website and at trade fairs;
  • A video interview with the winner presenting their innovation posted on the Euroméditerranée YouTube channel.
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