These data were presented during a ceremony celebrating the first anniversary of this modern structure, the 5th of its kind in the Kingdom, which was attended by, among others, the Governor of the Essaouira province, Adil El Maliki, the General Director of Technopark Maroc, Lamiae Benmakhlouf, as well as other personalities from the entrepreneurial, academic, and technological spheres.
During its first year of activity, the Technopark of the City of Alizés organised 12 training sessions for more than 400 participants, 30 events dedicated to innovation attracting more than 530 people, and hosted several national and international delegations, thus confirming its essential role as a space for exchange and collaboration for local economic and technological development.
Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Benmakhlouf highlighted the strategic importance of this incubation platform which "has established itself as a true catalyst for innovation and collaboration", affirming that by building on these considerable achievements, the structure will continue its commitment to actively contribute to the rise of entrepreneurship, both at the provincial and regional levels.
She subsequently noted that among the flagship initiatives of the Technopark of Essaouira are the organisation of major events such as the "Green Tech Roadshow", which allowed a dozen startups to benefit from personalised support, the "International Summit for Digital Nomads", which positioned Essaouira as a destination of choice for digital nomads from all over the world, as well as participation in "Gitex Africa", offering its startups the opportunity to integrate into leading international networks.
"We are fully aware of the potential of the Essaouira province and its capacity to integrate digital tools and innovative solutions in key sectors such as handicrafts, tourism, renewable energies, and Greentech", stressed Ms. Benmakhlouf in a statement to the MAP, noting that this vision is being realised through the launch, on the occasion of this anniversary, of the first "E. NOV Artisanat" hackathon, aimed at connecting artisans, developers, designers, and e-merchants to promote local products and the "Made in Essaouira" brand.
In parallel, she announced the launch, next January, of the "Boost Up Lab" programme, an innovative incubation initiative that will offer about thirty startups in the Marrakech-Safi region intensive support over a period of four months, including multidisciplinary training and practical workshops on key themes such as business strategy, management, fundraising, and presentation techniques to investors.
Furthermore, this ceremony was punctuated by testimonials from startups supported by the Technopark of Essaouira, who shared their experiences and expressed their gratitude for the personalised support received, as well as their enthusiasm to continue their development thanks to the opportunities offered by the platform.
With 35 modular coworking spaces and a capacity of up to 60 Very Small Enterprises (VSEs), startups, and project leaders, the Technopark of the City of Alizés offers solutions adapted to the needs of national and international entrepreneurs.
In addition to its actions in favour of local entrepreneurship, the platform offers "digital nomads" a modern and connected workspace, accompanied by unique networking opportunities with local startups.
