Presentation of the competition

Presentation of the competition

The MED’INNOVANT AFRICA competition organised by Euroméditerranée aims to identify and support African businesses (start-ups and small/medium-sized companies) with projects to develop innovative sustainable solutions for Mediterranean and African cities.

This competition is backed by partners who support Euroméditerranée in its open innovation initiative and want to connect with African tech leaders: StartupsBricks founder of EMERGING VALLEY, AFD, Accéléateur.M, and Fidal.

What are the themes?

  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Housing
  • Mobility
  • Digital
  • Contactless technology and connected objects
  • Sécurity
  • Social and solidarity economy

Improving the urban experience using digital tools:

  • Digital urban services, mobile applications and other media;
  • Contactless technology and connected objects.


Offering a pleasant and hospitable urban environment: 

  • Equipment for buildings or personal use that contributes to housing comfort or workplace well-being;
  • Services or equipment that contribute to the quality of public spaces, community life and the security of people and property;
  • Social innovation and solidarity mechanisms in the city.


Making the city greener and more energy-efficient:

  • Design solutions that reduce the city’s environmental impact (energy, water, waste, space);
  • Systems or equipment that facilitate urban management and mobility, as well as cost control.

Med'Innovant Africa

What are the selection criteria?

  • Identification of the need and the issue to be resolved: applicant’s ability to explain the proposed solution in terms of the identified need;
  • Impact on the testing ground: the innovative solution must be able to be implemented within the EcoCité Euroméditerranée district of Marseille;
  • Robustness of the project / business model: appropriateness of the solution, technical feasibility, commercial maturity, implementation timeframe, etc.
  • Level of maturity of the innovative solution: demonstration of a system prototype or model in a significant operating environment;
  • Quality and credibility of the team: ability to lead a project.

 

When is the period for applications?

  • The call for applications is open continuously from 1 July 8:00 to 30 September 2019 23:59 on (UTC+1).
  • Applicants must apply online, using the dedicated section

 

Confidentiality

The documents sent during the competition are subject to the strictest confidentiality and will only be communicated to the selection committee members. The information will only be used to allow the application of the project leader to be judged.

Med'Innovant Africa

What are the benefits for winners?

The winners will get a dedicated « welcome pack » ciblé.


Two prizes will be awarded: a « Jury Award » and a « Jury's Favourite » with the following respective rewards:


Rewards for the winner of the "Jury Award"

  • Funding of €5,000.
  • A 5-minute pitch at the presentation of the MED’INNOVANT AFRICA Awards during the 3rd EMERGING VALLEY summit;
  • A testing ground to test out and demonstrate the innovative solution: EcoCité Euroméditerranée (480 hectares located in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 14th and 15th arrondissements of Marseille);
  • A two-hour work session with the CEO of Euroméditerranée to define the way in which the winning solution will be implemented in the EcoCité Euroméditerranée area of operation;
  • 3 weeks of soft landing within Accélérateur .M located in the heart of the Cité de l’Innovation et des Savoirs Aix-Marseille;
  • Legal support from the FIDAL law firm totalling 4 hours, usable over a period of 6 months from the date of the award ceremony (for issues relating to intellectual property, IT law, distribution law and company law);
  • Organising of a business meeting with the Provence Promotion agency;
  • A guided tour of the Euroméditerranée operating area with a Euroméditerranée representative in order to examine the winning innovation's potential fields of application;
  • Visibility: press communications, social media, website and trade fairs;
  • A video interview of the winner presenting his/her innovation to be broadcast on Euroméditerranée's YouTube channel).


Rewards for the "Jury's Favourite"

  • A 5-minute pitch at the presentation of the MED’INNOVANT AFRICA Awards during the 3rd EMERGING VALLEY summit;
  • A one-hour meeting with the CEO of Euroméditerranée to examine how to optimise the adaptation of the winning solution to the area covered by EcoCité Euroméditerranée;
  • 3 weeks of soft landing within Accélérateur .M located in the heart of the Cité de l’Innovation et des Savoirs Aix-Marseille;
  • Legal support from the FIDAL law firm totalling 2 hours, usable over a period of 6 months from the date of the award ceremony (for issues relating to intellectual property, IT law, distribution law and company law);
  • Visibility: press communications, social media, website and trade fairs;
  • A video interview of the winner presenting his/her innovation to be broadcast on Euroméditerranée's YouTube channel).

All finalists will be offered a week of support to the AFD acceleration program, "Social and Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC)" from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5. 2019. The "SIBC" allows each year about 60 social entrepreneurs in Africa to accelerate the social impacts of their projets and join a dynamic community.

 

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