B2B – TechDays Euromed Clusters Forward: Matchmaking event for clusters and their companies EU-South Med in Marrakech

As part of the Euromed Clusters Forward project, Marrakech hosted from May 31 to June 2, 2022 the first Techs Days, organized by the European Commission and the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) in partnership with StartUp Morocco. The event focused on creating business links, sharing knowledge and promoting innovative collaborations in the following sectors: agri-food and cosmetics, textiles, ICT, and clean technologies and renewable energies. 

A total of 51 participants attended the event, including 17 from Europe and 34 from the southern Mediterranean. Our delegation was made up of members from Bulgaria, Egypt, France, Hungary, Jordan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Moldavia, Morocco, Palestine, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Tunisia, and included SMEs, clusters, public institutions, business support and R&D organizations;

Day 1: enriching cultural activities 

On May 31, the delegation took part in site visits to the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique, an institution focused on applied research and innovation in Africa, as well as to the Green Energy Park of the Institut de recherche sur l’énergie solaire et les nouvelles énergies (IRESEN), a platform for experimentation, research and training in renewable energies. We were able to see several of the university’s facilities, including their pioneering 1337 school, Morocco’s first computer science training program, educating the next generation of talented coders and computer scientists;

At the Green Energy Park, attendees were able to discover some of the innovative green technologies they are developing, including car batteries, housing and solar farms.

This was followed by an afternoon excursion to GITEX Africa, the continent’s largest inclusive technology event with 25,000 attendees, bringing together tech giants, governments, SMEs, start-ups, coders, investors and academia to accelerate, collaborate and explore new opportunities. The delegation was able to discover the breadth of Africa’s thriving technology industry, providing them with valuable information on which to base their networking efforts, as well as the opportunity to meet and network within the technology community. 

The first day of the event concluded with a networking dinner. The relaxed and informal setting provided the ideal backdrop for building relationships, sharing ideas and discussing potential partnerships over excellent Moroccan cuisine. 

Day 2: Building a strong community  

Day two kicked off with opening speeches from Virginie Cossoul of the European Commission, Christophe Guichard of the European Commission, Emmanuel Noutary of ANIMA Investment Network and Meryem Rachdi of the Moroccan Denim and Fashion Cluster. Their inspiring words underlined the importance of collaboration between EU member states and MENA countries for shared prosperity, laying the foundations for the discussions and networks that were to follow. 

Emmanuel Noutary highlighted the important context of the relationship between the EU and the South Med: “[The EU] cannot depend on supplies from external sources and we have to face up to climate problems… bringing production closer to consumption is part of the solution”. Emmanuel Noutary highlighted the important context of the relationship between the EU and the South Med: “[The EU] cannot depend on supplies from external sources and we have to face up to climate problems… bringing production closer to consumption is part of the solution”. 

After this opening session, the long-awaited cluster-to-company and cluster-to-cluster matchmaking sessions began. Participants had matchmaking meetings, which enabled them to discuss collaboration opportunities in depth and find a wide range of potential partnerships. The afternoon was marked by lively conversations, the exchange of business cards and the palpable energy of deals in progress. Among the 51 participants, we facilitated 117 bilateral meetings, resulting in a variety of fruitful outcomes, partnerships and opportunities. 

The session was followed by a well-earned networking lunch, where connections continued in a convivial atmosphere. Participants shared success stories, exchanged advice and strengthened newly-formed ties. 

Day 3: Exploring opportunities and celebrating results 

The morning of the third day was devoted to in-depth parallel sessions on specific themes linked to the priority sectors identified. Participants had the opportunity to discuss topics such as agri-food and cosmetics innovation, digitalization of the textile sector, clean technologies and renewable energies. These sessions provided an opportunity to further explore areas of mutual interest, exchange specialist knowledge and discuss ways of collaborating to stimulate innovation and economic growth. 

The afternoon was devoted to a closing plenary session, where participants had the opportunity to share the results of their bilateral meetings and discuss the opportunities identified. Examples of potential partnerships and collaborations were numerous, ranging from cooperation in research and development to the creation of sustainable supply chains. The session was also an opportunity to thank the organizers and participants for their commitment and contribution to the success of the event;

The event ended with a festive closing ceremony, where participants celebrated the results achieved and future opportunities.   

In conclusion, the TechDays matchmaking clusters in Marrakech was a resounding success, offering a dynamic platform for clusters and companies from the EU and South Med region to explore collaboration opportunities and strengthen economic ties. The bilateral meetings resulted in many promising relationships, and participants expressed their enthusiasm for future collaborations and business opportunities. The event demonstrated the potential and importance of cooperation between the EU and the countries of the South Med region, and laid the foundations for a mutually beneficial and sustainable economic relationship.

Check out the event photo album by ECCP