The Ministry of Economy of the Government of the Canary Islands, led by Elena Máñez, has announced the opening of the registration period for the second edition of the Africa Canarias Challenge, which this year will aim to strengthen cooperation with Mauritania and diversify the internationalization of the productive fabric.
The Director General of Economic Affairs with Africa, Nasara Cabrera, highlights as a primary vision of the recent program the immediate creation of an intercultural community of entrepreneurs capable of generating new opportunities that promote sustainable and inclusive development and contribute to reducing inequalities.
After focusing on Senegal during the first edition to respond to challenges linked to the post-coronavirus economy, adding public and private entities from both territories, the Africa Canarias Challenge Mauritania 2022 is now being developed through the Emerge Association, in coordination with a broad representation from both regions.
With a start in May and development until November 2022, the regional program offers an entrepreneurial experience to the participants through the creation of intercultural teams for the development of innovative projects with the aim of solving challenges in the agricultural sector, valuing the knowledge and 'know-how' of the Archipelago.
Climate change, the scarcity of natural resources or food security are global challenges that require urgent solutions through the necessary collaboration of multiple actors. Startup Mauritania Incubator facilitates the involvement of students, professionals and research or entrepreneurial staff as the main partner in the neighboring country.
Those interested can register until May 26 and must meet a series of requirements, such as being between 18 and 40 years old and having Canary residency, as well as having an interest in adding their creativity, training, experience or concerns to the identified challenges.
Through this initiative, they can participate in both online and in-person workshops and access resources and tools to create and grow their own company. The training actions, given by local and international entrepreneurs and experts, combine the latest trends in innovation with the study of financial tools for social and environmental impact, entrepreneurial mindset linked to the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda, exponential technologies, strategic thinking or product design.
Canarian entities such as the Canarian Institute of Agrarian Research (ICIA), the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC) or the Institute for Technological Development and Innovation in Communications (Idetic) of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) join Mauritanian organizations and the rest of the continent in identifying the challenges and developing solutions. The finalists can opt for private financing in a presentation to international investors.
