The city of Aix-Marseille-Provence is set to host the 7th edition of the EMERGING Valley business forum, anticipated to attract over 3,000 participants, 250 startups, and 50 investors from 70 different countries. The event, under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to foster co-innovation and digital investment ties between Europe and Africa, addressing topics such as environmental challenges, artificial intelligence, female entrepreneurship, startup funding, and the Olympic Games.
According to Africa News Agency, the business forum is a critical component of Aix-Marseille-Provence’s celebration as the European Capital of Innovation for 2023. EMERGING Valley, founded by entrepreneur and author Samir ABDELKRIM, has become a pivotal gathering for innovative entrepreneurship fostering connections between Africa and Europe. The summit encourages a reevaluation of technological and economic relations between the continents amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
The event will take place at thecamp, a futuristic innovation campus in the heart of the Aix-Marseille-Provence region, chosen for its capacity to stimulate collaboration and synergies between the African and European digital ecosystems. The location underscores Aix-Marseille-Provence’s role as a digital hub and innovation crossroads between the two continents.
Samir ABDELKRIM, founder of EMERGING Valley, highlighted the significance of the event in the current global context, emphasizing the urgent need for positive innovation and collaborative solutions between Europe and Africa. He remarked on the summit’s crucial role in these pivotal times, as global technology undergoes profound transformation, and underscored Aix-Marseille-Provence’s consolidation of its reputation as a digital bridge between Europe and Africa.
The summit is expected to draw numerous African business delegations and European innovation decision-makers, creating a unique opportunity for participants to expand their networks, engage with high-potential startups, connect with investors, and interact with influential figures in the innovation sector.
Since its inception in 2017, EMERGING Valley has facilitated significant connections and discussions in the entrepreneurial landscape, bringing together over 25,000 entrepreneurs, orchestrating 7,500 B2B meetings, connecting more than 500 tech hubs and investors, and featuring over 1,200 prominent speakers. The complete program for EMERGING Valley 2023 is set to be officially unveiled in October.