Invitation from Prof Bounahmidi of Fez Smart Factory Competitions!

Looking to expand your innovative industrial business in Africa? Morocco and the Fez Smart Factory (FSF) Ecosystem is the ideal destination for you. Read the full interview with its organizers and discover more about the novel and exciting Fez Smart Factory Competitions.

The Fez Smart Factory Competitions, launched as part of the FSF Ecosystem and led by EuroMed University of Fes (UEMF), Morocco, is a competition for companies to become part of an all-in-one support zone for innovative activities, aimed at developing a competitive industry by improving its productivity and other KPIs or developing new factories for innovative products, through the implementation of the principles and methods of industry 4.0.

This year, the competition benefits from the support and sponsorship of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of a broader effort to support FSF and the whole Industry 4.0 ecosystem in Morocco.

Fez Smart Factory’s Competitions are open to the following five categories of project holders and companies developing new smart factories for innovative products or providing Industry 4.0 solutions and technologies:

Make sure to apply by 15th December 2024.

Personal Invitation to Apply from Tijani Bounahmidi, Vice-President in Charge of the Fez Smart Factory Ecosystem

Can you provide the broader context for launching the Fez Smart Factory Competitions?

Fez Smart Factory innovation ecosystem was developed by the UEMF in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Regional Council of Fez-Meknes, the Digital Development Agency (ADD), the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) represented by its Fès-Meknes branch and the company Alten Delivery Center Maroc.

The project received support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government foreign aid agency, and is currently benefiting from assistance provided by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

For interested applicants, can you elaborate on the evaluation and selection process?

We have a limited number of places for each of the five categories of beneficiaries: project holders, startups, engineering companies, R&D entities, and industrialists. These places will be allocated to the best candidates in this competition who are working either on the development of new smart factories (project holders, startups, and industrialists) or on supporting this development (engineering companies and R&D entities).

To do this, the selection committee relies on an administrative file and a technical file which depend on each category of candidates and whose contents are described in the Terms and Conditions of each category.

The evaluation of candidates is done in two stages: pre-selection and selection. The pre-selection is based on the satisfaction of the legal conditions and those related to the nature of the proposed activities, and the selection is made on the basis of a scoring grid of the quality of the technical file.

Candidates who have obtained more than 70 out of 100 will be ranked according to their score and will be admitted within the FSF Ecosystem according to the number of places available. A waiting list will be established to replace withdrawals.

What can companies expect after they get selected to join the FSF Ecosystem?

The selected companies will be established in the FSF ecosystem benefiting from the advantages specified in the corresponding Terms and Conditions (to be found in FAQ sections of respective competition pages).

Overall, project holders will receive assistance to develop their business plan; startups will be supported to develop and implement their smart factory on a demonstration scale; the industrialists of the Business Center will be helped to set up their investment project for the creation of smart factories in Morocco; engineering companies and R&D entities will benefit from the proximity of potential customers looking for innovative smart solutions.

All companies will benefit from a working environment offering innovation management and industrial development services, as well as quality workspaces and diversified social services.

Can you provide a personal message for all companies looking to apply?

For innovative companies committed to achieving significant economic, social, and environmental impact, the Fez Smart Factory Ecosystem is the ideal innovation ecosystem designed to meet the objectives of sustainable development by implementing industry 4.0 technologies.

We encourage companies to apply for this international competition which will help create an international pool of innovation, working to achieve this common objective of sustainable development for the good of humanity and planet Earth.

Why apply for Fez Smart Factory Competitions?

Morocco is quickly becoming a top hub for smart factories and 4.0 solutions. Pro-business policies, a dynamic and competitive business environment, and a strong focus on sustainability establish the region as a unique, integrated ecosystem for industrial innovation at scale. Successful applications will receive the following benefits:

Benefits for All Companies

Access to a 20m2 office equipped with office furniture, conference rooms, and an exhibition hall that can host up to 300 people
One-stop-shop services
Social services: catering and cafeteria; medical, health and safety services, and childcare services
Support services for industrial property, business planning, and industrial development
Gain access to experts, donors, investors, manufacturers, etc. based in Morocco
Services of the rapid prototyping center shared with the UEMF
Services of the Pilot School Factory 4.0
Facilitation of access to other technological or other services which can be provided by the various components of the UEMF

Special Benefits for Startups

Access to a 20m2 workshop for prototyping and tests
Access to a space for the development of the smart factory at a demonstration scale

Additional Special Benefits for Engineering Companies and R&D Entities

Workstations in an office space or access to an R&D workshop
Assistance in identifying the transformation needs of existing industries
Support services for the transformation of existing industrial units, or for the benefit of Business Center companies, startups, and project leaders established at FSF

The final deadline to submit the application form and all the administrative and technical documents to Fez Smart Factory is December 15th, 2024. So, what are you waiting for? Click here to find the Fez competition that suits you the best and apply now!

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