EIC’s first mission to GITEX Africa 2025: five EIC-backed companies, an EU pavilion and a push for Europe-Africa tech ties

Brussels, April 24th 2025

Summary

›A five-company EIC delegation exhibited at GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech from 14 to 16 April 2025 under the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0.
›The EIC Pavilion hosted panels, Tech Talks and matchmaking activities and drew high level visitors from the European Commission, Moroccan government and regional stakeholders.
›Selected companies received tailored coaching, pre-arranged meetings and speaking slots but the report provides limited evidence of concrete commercial outcomes.
›The mission highlighted EU efforts to deepen research and innovation links with Africa while underscoring practical market entry challenges such as regulation, local partnerships and IP protection.

EIC’s first mission to GITEX Africa 2025

From 14 to 16 April 2025 a delegation of five EIC-backed companies exhibited at GITEX Africa in Marrakech. The mission was organised through the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0 and marked the European Innovation Council’s inaugural presence at Africa’s largest tech fair. The event is positioned by organisers as a platform for dealmaking between technology firms, investors and public stakeholders across Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

What happened on the ground

GITEX Africa 2025 reported a record attendance of more than 45,000 participants from over 130 countries. The EIC Pavilion hosted an opening ceremony with senior EU officials and speakers from Dubai World Trade Centre. The pavilion staged panels on market entry, digital sovereignty, agrifood value chains and climate resilient supply chains. It also provided exhibition space, Tech Talks and matchmaking services for the five selected companies.

Dates and location:GITEX Africa took place in Marrakech, Morocco from 14 to 16 April 2025. The EIC participation was organised as part of the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0.

Scale of the event:Organisers say the third edition attracted over 45,000 attendees from more than 130 countries, building on previous editions that drew tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of startups and investors.

Who took part from the EIC side

The EIC delegation comprised five EIC-backed companies across agri-tech, blockchain, renewable energy, health and biometrics. EIC and European Commission representatives from the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation participated alongside pan-European initiatives that support Europe-Africa cooperation.

Company	Country	Technology focus	EIC instrument
AquaB Nanobubble Innovations	Ireland	Nanobubble generation for water treatment and irrigation efficiency	EIC Accelerator
Billon Group	Poland	Blockchain-based secure data exchange and digital identity	EIC SME Instrument
Brite Solar	Greece	Solar glass and agrivoltaics using advanced nanomaterials	EIC SME Instrument
DigiFarm	Norway	Precision agriculture APIs using deep neural networks for field boundary detection and crop classification	EIC Accelerator
Invis Wearables	Poland	AI-powered biometrics and health monitoring wearables	EIC Industrial Leadership

Pavilion opening and high level visitors

The EIC Pavilion ribbon cutting included Stéphane Ouaki, Head of Department at the European Innovation Council, EU Ambassador to Morocco Patricia Llombart, Nienke Buisman of DG Research and Innovation, and Trixie LohMirmand from Dubai World Trade Centre. The pavilion also received a special visit by Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka. Public visibility was heightened by appearances from former football professionals Raphaël Varane, Robert Pirès and Bafé Gomis.

Partner initiatives represented:DG RTD joined the delegation alongside the Africa-Europe Innovation Platform, Euraxess, ENRICH in Africa and SEADE. These initiatives aim to lower barriers to collaboration across scientific, academic and commercial actors between Europe and Africa.

Programme highlights: panels, speaking slots and Tech Talks

The EIC Pavilion hosted a full agenda of panels and events intended to combine policy messages, market-orientated advice and showcasing of beneficiary technology. Selected EIC companies were given speaking opportunities both at the Pavilion and on the official GITEX line-up.

Session	Focus	Notable participants
Expand your horizons - Setting up your office in Morocco	Practical challenges for European deep tech companies establishing a presence in Morocco	Investors, company representatives and policymakers
Building Africa's future - Sovereign digital and telecommunications infrastructures	Data centres, satellite connectivity and platforms for digital sovereignty	Industry experts and infrastructure providers
From production to global shelve - Agro-ecology and value chain innovation	Regenerative production, product development and market entry for African exports	Agri-tech companies, exporters and value chain specialists
Grow your business in Africa - A European perspective	How European businesses can expand through partnerships and investment	Speakers from France and Germany and EIC beneficiaries
Green by design - Building climate-resilient value chains in Africa	Clean energy, agro-ecology and carbon-smart solutions	Researchers, entrepreneurs and investors focused on decarbonisation

EIC and Commission representatives featured on main stages. Highlights included Stéphane Ouaki discussing innovative financing, Nassima Ferahtia on innovation co-investment, Yousef Yousef on development finance institutions mobilising private finance, and Nienke Buisman outlining AU-EU research and innovation cooperation. EIC programme managers and company founders delivered presentations and workshops on specific sector challenges such as food chain technologies and AI for research collaboration.

Sample of speaking engagements at the official programme:Main Stage panels with Stéphane Ouaki and Nassima Ferahtia, a session with Yousef Yousef on DFIs, Nienke Buisman on AU-EU innovation, Ivan Stefanic presenting on food chain challenges, plus a workshop on AI in Africa-Europe research collaboration with DG R&I officers.

Matchmaking, coaching and reverse pitches

Ahead of the fair the five companies received tailored coaching and pre-departure market briefings as part of the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0. Onsite, organisers arranged pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings and reverse pitch sessions with regional investors. The event included reverse pitches hosted by Flat6Labs and EmergingTech Ventures and investor meetings intended to facilitate follow-up commercial discussions.

Reverse pitch sessions explained:Reverse pitches flip the usual investor pitch model so that investors outline the problems and investment criteria they are seeking. This lets startups target their follow up conversations more effectively with relevant investors.

The companies also presented at Tech Stage sessions and were involved in curated B2B matchmaking. Examples of Tech Talks included presentations by AquaB, Billon and Invis Wearables. The organisers promoted follow-up mechanisms but the public report does not quantify leads converted into signed contracts or revenue.

What the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0 offers

Programme scope and services:ITF 3.0 runs from 2024 to 2026 and supports EIC awardees to exhibit at twelve trade fairs across EU, MENA and the USA. It covers four sector clusters: biotech and pharma, health and medical care, clean tech and environment, and new and industrial technologies. Services offered include expert coaching, pre-departure briefings, cultural and intellectual property training, networking and B2B matchmaking, and follow-up support to pursue business partnerships.

The programme is open to startups, scaleups and SMEs that are EIC beneficiaries from EU Member States or Associated Countries. Participant selection is through open calls published on the EIC Community Platform and proposals are assessed by external experts.

Context and critical perspective

The EIC’s presence at GITEX Africa aligns with wider European priorities to deepen research and innovation ties with Africa. Showcasing technology, convening policymakers and arranging investor meetings are legitimate first steps toward collaboration. The real test is whether these activities translate into enduring partnerships, technology transfer, locally adapted deployments and measurable economic outcomes for both sides.

Practical barriers to monitor:Market entry requires more than visibility. Companies must navigate regulatory complexity, local procurement rules, data protection regimes, interoperability standards, intellectual property issues and the need for trusted local partners. Smaller firms often face high costs for market establishment and an absence of detailed aftercare support can limit conversion of leads to contracts.

The EIC message emphasises coaching and matchmaking. That is useful. However public reporting on ITF missions tends to highlight participation, panels and visits rather than measurable business outcomes. For stakeholders tracking EU innovation diplomacy, more granular metrics would be helpful. These include number of signed memoranda of understanding, pilots started, contracts initiated, follow-on investment amounts and local job creation.

A note on sector specifics mentioned at the fair

Agrivoltaics and Brite Solar:Agrivoltaics refers to using the same land for both agriculture and solar energy generation. Technologies like solar glass can enable crops to grow under photovoltaic structures while producing electricity. Potential benefits include dual land use and increased farm revenue but implementation requires local agronomic studies and careful design to avoid negative impacts on crop yields.

Nanobubble technology and AquaB:Nanobubbles are tiny gas bubbles in water that can enhance mass transfer and oxygenation. In agriculture they can improve irrigation efficiency and crop protection. Commercial viability depends on durable hardware, energy efficiency and demonstrable cost savings for end users in target markets.

Blockchain for digital identity and Billon:Blockchain can improve data integrity and traceability but is not a universal solution. Projects aimed at financial inclusion or government services must consider usability, identity verification processes, regulatory acceptance and governance models to avoid replicating digital exclusion.

Next steps and follow up

The EIC encourages participants and interested organisations to follow updates via the EIC Community Platform and the EIC Business Acceleration Services newsletter. Companies that want to participate in future trade fairs should monitor open calls for ITF 3.0 and consult the Helpdesk category for the International Trade Fairs Programme.

Where to get more information:Information on the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0, upcoming trade fairs and how to apply is available on the EIC Community Platform. For direct enquiries use the EIC Community Helpdesk and select the category 'EIC International Trade Fairs Programme' or the specific event.

Final assessment

The EIC’s GITEX Africa mission showcased a small but diverse set of EU-backed deep tech companies and gave them exposure to high level audiences and investors. The activity is consistent with a strategic aim to strengthen Europe-Africa innovation links. To judge impact objectively, stakeholders will need follow-up evidence of partnerships, investments and deployments in African markets. Without those metrics the mission remains an important visibility exercise with uncertain commercial yield.

Disclaimer: The information in this article aggregates public reporting by the European Innovation Council and related EIC materials. It is presented to provide context and analysis and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission or other institutions.