Fez Smart Factory R&D Entities’ Competition 2024

Sponsored by the UNIDO, the Fez Smart Factory (FSF) is launched as part of the FSF Ecosystem. It is a support zone for innovative activities, aimed at developing a competitive industry by improving its productivity through the implementation of the principles and methods of industry 4.0. This competition aims to improve industrial productivity and other KPIs or develop new factories for innovative products, by implementing the principles, methods, and technologies of Industry 4.0.

All the activities of the FSF zone will be oriented towards this objective, from raising awareness of the interest of Industry 4.0 to supporting startups working to create new 4.0 factories. The Fez Smart Factory Competitions is the first Industry 4.0 project of its kind in Morocco.

By creating a unique and integrated industry 4.0 ecosystem, the Fez Smart Factory Competitions aim to:

• Set up a core of smart factories by supporting startups and project leaders benefiting from FSF's engineering and R&D services, as well as a Pilot School Factory, to develop their 4.0 factories at the demonstration scale.

• Take advantage of the FSF ecosystem to support existing industrial units in the Fez-Meknes Region and Morocco to optimize their industrial, environmental and social performance by taking advantage of industry concepts 4.0.

The Fez Smart Factory Ecosystem is located in the city of Fes, Morocco, next to the Euromed University of Fes (UEMF).

Pro-Business:
• Morocco is politically & economically stable under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI
• Strong macroeconomic environment
• Reliable business partnerships

Competitive Environment:
• Strategic location for investment & trade
• Investment Charter with significant incentives for foreign investors
• Close to Tangier Med Port - 1st trans-shipment hub in Africa
• World-class public infrastructure throughout Morocco
• Dynamic & qualified workforce
• Home to high-end integrated industrial platforms

Sustainable Future:
• 37% electric energy supplied from renewables
• Aim to reach 52% from wind, solar & hydro by 2030
• 4 GW & USD 6 billion in investments

The Fez Smart Factory R&D Entities' Competition 2024 seeks applications from innovative research entites to join the Fez Smart Factory R&D Services 4.0, one of the components of the FSF Ecosystem.

This competition is open to any eligible R&D entity working to optimize the value chain in an industrial sector covered by the FSF Ecosystem.

Check the terms and conditions document for detailed eligibility criteria.

R&D Entities selected within the FSF Ecosystem will sign a service contract with "FSF INDUSTRY" defining the commitments of each party, which can be found in the terms and conditions document above.

Selected R&D Entities will receive the following benefits:

• A 20 m2 office equipped with office furniture.
• A workstation in an office space.
• A laboratory space of 20 m2.
• Use, upon reservation, of a meeting room, a conference room with a capacity of 250 people and an exhibition hall for 300 people.
• One-stop-shop services.
• Social services: catering and cafeteria, medical, safety, and nursery services.
• Support services for the management of services provided as part of the transformation of existing industrial units, or for the benefit of Business Center companies, start-ups and project leaders established at FSF.
• Help identify the transformation needs of existing industries.
• Industrial property and industrial development support services;
• Help in putting you in contact with experts, donors, investors, manufacturers, etc.
• 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.

This competition is open to any eligible R&D Entity, Moroccan or foreign, providing R&D service to industrial units in the FSF Ecosystem.

Sectors of interest for the Fez Smart Factory R&D Entities' Competition 2024 are:

• Agriculture and Food
• Chemical and Para-Chemical
• Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
• Metal, Metallurgical, and Electromechanical
• Renewable Energy (including Green Hydrogen)
• Textile and Leather
• Digital Tech (including Artificial Intelligence)

The R&D entities selected within the FSF Ecosystem will sign a contract of services with FSF INDUSTRY defining the commitments of each party during the renewable three-year service period.

The final deadline to submit the application form as well as all administrative and technical documents to Fez Smart Factory is 15th December 2024, 23:59 CET.

Check the terms and conditions document for more information.

The applications will be evaluated in a two-step process, as detailed below:

• Initial evaluation based on the information provided in the application form of the Fez Smart Factory R&D Entities' Competitions 2024.
• Pre-selected applications will be contacted by the Fez Smart Factory team for further evaluations based on eligibility criteria. Applicants may also be required to submit administrative and technical documents.

The eligibility of the candidate's applications to be evaluated by the evaluation committee is based on the industrial sector targeted by the project, which must be among the sectors covered by the FSF ecosystem, as mentioned above.

In addition, the applications must meet certain technical requirements that are elaborated within the Terms and Conditions document mentioned above.

Yes, you can!

Apart from R&D entities, Fez Smart Factory Competitions 2024 accepts applications in the following categories:

• If you are an independent project leader, apply for the Fez Smart Factory Projet Holders’ Competition 2024
• Startups can apply for the Fez Smart Factory FSF Startups’ Competition 2024
• Industrial companies are eligible to apply for the Fez Smart Factory Business Center Competition 2024
• Engineering companies can apply for the Fez Smart Factory Engineering Companies’ Competition 2024