Advance Your Smart Factory from Pilot Scale to Demonstration Scale for Innovative Products in Morocco!
The Fez Smart Factory (FSF) Startups’ Competition 2024 organized by Euromed University of Fes (UEMF), Morocco, is now open for applications. The winners will join a program designed to help startups develop their Smart Factory at demonstration scale for innovative products. 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.
The Fez Smart Factory Startups’ Competition 2024 seeks applications from innovative startups to join the Fez Smart Factory Accelerator, one of the components of the FSF Ecosystem. This competition is open to any startup, Moroccan or foreign, carrying an eligible project aimed at developing a new innovative industrial unit for high value-added and competitive product(s), using concepts and technologies from Industry 4.0.
By creating a unique and integrated industry 4.0 ecosystem, the objective of the Fez Smart Factory Competitions is to:
– Set up a core of smart factories by supporting project leaders and startups 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 4.0 concepts.
The FSF Startup Accelerator 4.0 aims to improve the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your project from 6 to 8:
Startups selected for the next stage 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. Selected startups will receive the following benefits:
Access to experts, investors, donors, and manufacturers from Morocco.
Access to the Rapid Prototyping Center, as well as various labs and technological services available at UEMF.
Support services for industrial property, business plans, and industrial development.
Access to office spaces and social support services, including one-stop-shop services, catering, cafeteria, medical, safety, and nursery services.
Access to services of the Pilot School Factory 4.0.
Help identify the transformation needs of existing industries.
Startups that have demonstrated the feasibility of the industrial unit on a demonstration scale will be supported to implement said unit in the FSF Ecosystem spaces. Each startup will benefit from an appropriate space which will be built by Ecosystem partners. The budget for the demonstration industrial unit will be raised with the support of FSF-FOUNDATION.
5 OCTOBER 2024
Applications Open
15 DECEMBER 2024
Deadline to submit the application form and all administrative and technical documents to Fez Smart Factory
DECEMBER 2024
Application Evaluation
JANUARY 2025
Signing of Service Contracts
APPLY NOW
The FSF Startup Accelerator 4.0 caters to the Fez Smart Factory Startups’ Competition 2024. It is a reception area for startups with development projects for intelligent industrial units for high value-added and competitive products. It helps startups to improve the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of their projects from 6 to 8.
The other elements of the Fez Smart Factory (FSF) Ecosystem support engineering companies, SMEs & industrial companies, research and development (R&D) companies, as well as individual project holders. Learn more about all of them below:
FSF supports project leaders creating innovative & high value-added industrial units using Industry 4.0 concepts. FSF-INDUSTRY & FSF-FOUNDATION provide support through technical assistance & fundraising respectively. It helps project holders improve their TRL from 3 to 5.
This component of the FSF Ecosystem offers spaces for SMEs, large companies & industrial units looking to invest in Morocco in the field of industry 4.0. It helps companies with a TRL 9 to develop their projects at an industrial scale.
FSF aims to select ten engineering companies, to be established in the spaces dedicated to the engineering services of the FSF ecosystem. They will be selected on the basis of technology and use cases for industry.
FSF aims to select five R&D entities, to be established in the spaces dedicated to R&D services of the FSF ecosystem. A single entity will be selected per industrial sector among those covered by the FSF Ecosystem.
Take advantage of the various research labs and services available at UEMF, as part of joining the Fez Smart Factory Ecosystem. These include the Rapid Prototyping Platform, Smart Manufacturing Platform, Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering Platform, and Digital & AI Platform at UEMF.
Contact
Hicham EL KADIRI
In Charge of FSF beneficiaries’ Support
h.elkadiri@ueuromed.org
See our responses to some of the most common questions or view our Terms & Conditions.
What is the background of Fez Smart Factory Competitions?
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.
Where is the Fez Smart Factory Ecosystem located?
The Fez Smart Factory Ecosystem is located in the city of Fes, Morocco, next to the Euromed University of Fes (UEMF).
What makes Morocco an attractive innovation destination?
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
Are there enough clients for my business in Morocco?
Yes, Morocco offers a vibrant market with ample opportunities for growth. Through the FSF Ecosystem and support from Euromed University of Fes (UEMF), startups and industrial companies are empowered to build and scale their operations effectively.
EUROMED assists companies setting up and scaling smart factories to develop products tailored for both local and international markets, ensuring a steady and expanding client base.
Does Fez Smart Factory offer funding, investment, or equity?
While the Fez Smart Factory does not directly provide funding or equity, it plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to financial resources.
FSF supports participants by assisting them in creating solid business proposals and connecting them with potential investors and donors.
This support enhances the likelihood of securing the necessary investment to advance your Industry 4.0 initiatives.
Who can apply to the competition?
The Fez Smart Factory Startups' Competition 2024 seeks applications from innovative startups to join the Fez Smart Factory Accelerator, one of the components of the FSF Ecosystem.
This competition is open to any startup, Moroccan or foreign, carrying an eligible project aimed at developing a new innovative industrial unit for high value-added and competitive product(s), using concepts and technologies from industry 4.0.
Check the terms and conditions document for detailed eligibility criteria.
What are the benefits of the Fez Smart Factory Startups' Competiton?
Startups 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, as mentioned above.
Selected startups will receive the following benefits:
• Access to a 20m2 office equipped with office furniture.
• A workshop space of 20m2.
• Two workstations in an office space.
• A meeting room, a conference room with a capacity of 250 people, and an exhibition hall hosting up to 300 people.
• One-stop-shop services.
• Social services: catering and cafeteria, medical, safety, and nursery services.
• Support services in entrepreneurship, industrial property, and industrial development.
• Gain access to experts, donors, investors, industrialists, 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.
Which industries does the FSF Ecosystem seek?
This competition is open to any startup, Moroccan or foreign, with an eligible project aimed at developing a new innovative industrial unit for high value-added and competitive product(s), using concepts and technologies of industry 4.0.
Sectors of interest for the Fez Smart Factory Startups' Competition 2024 are:
• Agrifood
• Chemical and Para-Chemical
• Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
• Metal, Metallurgical, and Electromechanical
• Renewable Energy (including Green Hydrogen)
• Textile and Leather
• Digital Tech (including Artificial Intelligence)
What happens next, if I am selected into the Fez Smart Factory Ecosystem?
Startups selected for acceleration within the FSF Ecosystem will sign a service contract with "FSF INDUSTRY" defining each party's commitments during the acceleration period not exceeding four years. The acceleration comprises the following phases:
• PHASE 1: Feasibility study of the industrial installation on a demonstration scale and raising of funds.
• PHASE 2: Implementation of the industrial installation on a demonstration scale on the FSF Ecosystem spaces.
When is the application deadline?
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.
How will your application be evaluated?
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 Startups' 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 following, which must be met simultaneously:
• The industrial sector targeted by the project must be among the sectors covered by the FSF ecosystem, as mentioned above.
• Project activities to take place during the acceleration phase must have Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6.
In addition, the applications must meet certain technical requirements that are elaborated within the Terms and Conditions document mentioned above.
We are not a startup, can we still apply?
Yes, you can!
Apart from startups, Fez Smart Factory Competitions 2024 accepts applications in the following categories:
• If you are an independent project leader, apply for the Fez Smart Factory Project Holders’ 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
• R&D companies can also apply for the Fez Smart Factory FSF R&D Entities’ Competition 2024