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Coordinated by  
Framework Partnership Agreement on Copernicus User Uptake (FPCUP)Framework Partnership Agreement on Copernicus User Uptake (FPCUP)
Point of contact
Robin  Faivre
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
18, avenue Edoaurd BELIN
31400 Toulouse
Phone: +33 5 61 28 22 54
URL: cnes.fr

Implementing Partner: CNES
Objective:
- High number of new users
- Increased use of data
- Networking of different user groups
Primary Topic:
- Copernicus Data
Primary Target Users:
- Private Sector

Action No.: 2019-3-11
Duration:
Last Update:

SMEs in Africa

SMEs AFRICA has two main objectives. The first objective is Business development and the second objective is to promote the use of Copernicus data to African stakeholders. The goal is, to strengthen the capacity of the territories to adapt to climate change thanks to the use of Copernicus data.

Copernicus is a global programme that provides data all over the world in a sustainable and reliable way. Many companies and especially start-ups have developed products in various value chains, especially in Europe. Nevertheless, in order to create business growth, these companies need to find new market opportunities and bigger customers.

The Action "SMEs AFRICA" had two main objectives. The first objective is to boost the business development and the second is to promote the use of Copernicus data to African stakeholders.
The goal is, to strengthen the capacity of the territories to adapt to climate change thanks to the use of Copernicus data.
The action has focused on four African countries: Gabon, South Africa, Senegal and Ethiopia.

The internationalisation programme of SMEs AFRICA, aims at supporting the internationalization of European companies that have Copernicus-based products. These companies are small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and did not have the critical dimension necessary to go international. This Action was able to help15 European SMEs to adapt their products to the African market and has developed a soft landing process to support them in expanding their business in Africa.

The main results of the business support phase are the selection of 15 European SMEs coming from 7 EU countries, country market trends webinar presentations, the establishment of 30 export diagnostics and 14 roadmaps by Business France. One SME resigned from the programme due to internal reasons. Following this first support, SMEs were liaised with potential partners or clients in the targeted country. As a whole, SMEs AFRICA organized more than 50 B2B meetings with Senegalese, South African and Ethiopian public and private stakeholders.

On the sensitization phase, SMEs AFRICA has co-organised two workshops in Gabon and Senegal and participated in two conferences in South Africa and in Rwanda. The topics that were addressed were: Copernicus data for energy, management of natural resources, maritime, agriculture and smart city and entrepreneurship. As a whole, more than 130 persons attended the SMEs AFRICA events.

The main achievements are:

  • 3 countries targeted by the SMEs: Ethiopia, Senegal and South Africa
  • 3 webinars on market trends in targeted countries
  • 30 export diagnosis realized, 2 per SME
  • 14 roadmaps delivered
  • +50 B2B meetings organised
  • The Action was part of 4 workshops/conferences with more than 130 participants in total

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