DIASPORA – Soft-landing Provence Africa Connect, a new Service Offer for African innovators choosing Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis
Published on 01 December 2023
As a gateway between Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean, the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis is positioning itself as a privileged partner for fast-growing African entrepreneurs. ANIMA, in collaboration with its partners, announced at the EMERGING VALLEY summit the launch of the Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect program, a reception facility dedicated to innovative African companies looking to set up in Europe and expand internationally from Aix-Marseille-Provence.
Following a call for projects launched by the Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence and won by a leading consortium led by Accélérateur M and Marseille Innovation, the program aims to coordinate support and guidance for innovative African companies in the metropolitan area. The clear aim is to facilitate their establishment and support them at every stage of their development.
This consortium, which also includes Eurobiomed, Kedge Business School and ANIMA Investment Network, will be working closely with the Metropole to pilot the Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect program, an innovative project to support African innovators in the Aix-Marseille-Provence region.
At the Emerging Valley forum, Arnaud Mercier, Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolitan Councilor in charge of the Digital Metropolis, Public Data Policies, Innovation and User Experience, emphasized the goal of making Aix-Marseille-Provence an international Europe-Africa crossroads at the service of shared prosperity. Soft-Landing Provence Africa Connect gives concrete expression to this vision, offering a unique opportunity for the future of Aix-Marseille-Provence.
Aix-Marseille-Provence, as a recognized digital and logistics hub, offers high-quality infrastructures, notably as France’s 1st port to Africa and 1st regional air hub to Africa. Aix-Marseille-Provence is committed to becoming a key Euro-Mediterranean region and one of the world’s top 20 metropolises.