As part of its collaborative strategy with African energy stakeholders, MEDEE took part in a mission to Benin from September 19th to 26th. The density of discussions achieved during this stay confirms the dynamism of the cluster’s collaboration with Africa!
This trip had several objectives:
- Close the first phase of the collaboration project between the Hauts-de-France Region and the municipality of Sèmè Podji, especially with the cooperation between MEDEE and the Energy and Applications (E&A) Cluster,
- Meet the partners of the European project LEOPARD and to organize a public kick-off of the project,
- Promote MEDEE ecosystem to new Beninese stakeholders that might be interested in collaborative projects. For example, the school Epitech Benin, the company Lagazel or the delegation of the European Union in Benin.
Energy and Applications Cluster: the end of the first chapter and the beginning of new collaborations
The first phase of the project, concerning the creation of the Cluster E&A and financed by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Hauts-de-France Region, will end in December 2021.
However, numerous opportunities are already foreseen! The cocktail organized by the cluster E&A during our stay brought together the major structures of the energy sector in Benin, technical and financial partners and public authorities.
Our partner is now a solid and locally recognized player with strong ambitions. In particular, it has announced a project of a campus for energy-related professions. The aim is to bring together equipment and skills on a single site. MEDEE will provide support, particularly through its knowledge of regional technology platforms.
LEOPARD: enthusiasm around a promising project
This mission was an opportunity to finally meet the partners of LEOPARD project, which officially began in April 2021. Working sessions with the consortium, visits to the sites of the Beninese partners ARESS and EPAC, an excursion to the future pilot site of the Songhai Center and the public kick-off of the project were on the agenda.
At the kick-off, Godfrey Nzamujo, founder and director of the Songhai Center, showed his enthusiasm for the project. « Songhai provides the framework to demonstrate the possibilities offered by LEOPARD […] We must embrace the LEOPARD project at 140%« .
A measurement campaign on the Songhai site should begin soon. This will allow the complete specifications of the container to be implemented during the project.
