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Project
funded by the
EUROPEAN UNION

The first #Techdays in Morocco

Casablanca

THE NEXT SOCIETY (TNS) in collaboration with the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) and Logismed 2019 Fair will organise the first #TechDays, an EU - MENA Cluster Matchmaking Event taking place on 9-11 April 2019 in Casablanca, Morocco. The overall objective of the event is to provide EU clusters access to South-Mediterranean markets (including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine) through close cooperation with local-based organisations.

Event activities:

  • Cluster matchmaking event between European clusters and clusters from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine
  • Capacity building trainings
  • Group discussion sessions
  • Visit to LOGISMED 2019
  • Local visits and other activities!

Focus areas:

The key focus areas for European clusters include the main target sector of LOGISMED 2019, as well as the sectors covered by clusters:

  • Transport and logistics
  • Agriculture and food industry
  • Energy and environment
  • Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and mechatronics
  • Textile

Opportunities for SMEs:

The activities in the scope of the Logismed 2019 tradeshow tradeshow offer great opportunities for European SMEs in the Fair focus areas, to exploit business opportunities with Morocco and the region. Therefore, the ECCP encourages European cluster organisations to disseminate this opportunity among their SMEs.

 

Bringing together clusters from the MENA region and the European Union for the 8th edition of Logismed, the International Transport and Logistics Exhibition for Africa and the Mediterranean, the 1st edition of #TechDays THE NEXT SOCIETY aims to promote cooperation and networking between cluster managers from both sides of the Mediterranean in order to explore potential synergies that can lead to business partnerships between the various organizations. 

The event, offered to clusters in the MENA region as part of the Cluster Booster Track, the tailor-made support programme for cluster managers supported by THE NEXT SOCIETY, will pay particular attention to certain strategic sectors in the economy of the Euro-Mediterranean region: transport and logistics; agriculture and agri-food industry, energy and the environment; information and communication technologies (ICT), mecatronics and the textile industry. 

 

Representatives of the European Commission, the European Union Delegation to Morocco and the Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and the Digital Economy will address the opening ceremony, which will be followed by a pitching session where both delegations will present their clusters. For 3 days, cluster managers will benefit from a strong support: training targeted on Industry 4.0, South-South cooperation and C2C collaboration between Europe and the southern shore of the Mediterranean; bilateral meetings to identify business opportunities for clusters and their members; moments of relaxation and networking; visits to local organizations of high interest (MAScIR Foundation, ESITH - École supérieure des industries du textile et de l'habillement, CTI - Centres Techniques Industriels marocains) and other activities that will accelerate exchanges with their peers with the objective of forging links and building business relationships! 


The Cluster Booster Track THE NEXT SOCIETY: a tailor-made acceleration programme for Mediterranean clusters and their managers 
The Cluster Booster Track proposes a complete action plan for Mediterranean clusters. This is a peer-to-peer coaching and training programme that assists cluster managers from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia to improve their management skills, increase their business opportunities and open new channels for collaboration at national and international level.
 
The Cluster Booster Track offers many services: a needs assessment phase (completed); Benchmarking Visits and Training (watch the video of the first edition in Barcelona); a mentoring program for cluster managers; #TechDays; International Market Missions. All activities aim to strengthen strategic cooperation between European and South Mediterranean clusters, thus contributing to the creation of a strong cluster community in the Mediterranean region. 

 

22 THE NEXT SOCIETY clusters participate in #TechDays Morocco
Borg Al Arab Innovation Cluster (Egypt), Cyprus-Egypt-Greece Collaborative Innovation Network - COIN (Egypt), Egyptian Renewable Energy Cluster (Egypt), Oasis500 (Jordan), Beirut Creative Cluster (Lebanon), QOOT Agri-Food Innovation Cluster (Lebanon), AGRINOVA (Morocco), Le Cluster des Textiles Techniques Marocains - C2TM (Morocco), Cluster Electronique, Mécatronique et Mécanique du Maroc - CE3M (Morocco), Cluster MENARA (Morocco), Cluster Solaire (Morocco), CISE Maroc (Morocco), Maroc Numeric Cluster (Morocco), Hebron Leather and Shoe Cluster (Palestine), Salfit House of Furniture (Palestine), Palestinian Stone Cluster (Palestine), Date and Palm Cluster (Palestine), Rawabi Tech Hub (Palestine), Pôle de compétitivité de Bizerte (Tunisia), Cluster Huile d'olive Nord-Ouest (Tunisie), Cluster Mechatronic Tunisie (Tunisie), Cluster dates & palm Tunisia (Tunisie).

 

Download here a selection of photos of the event

Download the press release PDF (only in French)

Click here to download the programme