Program to Accompany Innovative Startups in the Mediterranean Basin (PACEIM)

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PACEIM is intended for PhD students and researchers from countries south of the Mediterranean residing in Europe. It aims to support the creation of 100 innovative startups.

France is the leading host country for students from countries south of the Mediterranean, including 7000 from North Africa working on their doctorate (OST 2005 data). These highly qualified students rarely manage to find a job that corresponds to their field of study and educational level.

Given this potential, the French Institute of Research for Development (IRD) has launched the Program to Accompany Innovative Startups in the Mediterranean Basin (PACEIM). The goal of this program is to support the creation of 100 startups using innovative technologies in all sectors of activity, south of the Mediterranean: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Lebanon, Egypt.
The program is designed for nationals of these countries who reside in Europe, either registered in university, or holding an advanced degree (from Master’s to post-doctorate, or technicians, engineers and researchers.

In the primary phase of PACEIM 2010, awardees will enjoy the following support:
- meetings in Montpellier with economic actors to prepare their project and identify partners (November 2010)
- a business trip to the desired country for establishment of their project to strengthen it and solicit partnerships (December-January 2011)
- personalized counseling during the emergent phase of their project

With the perspective of personalized support in 2011-2014.

Application deadline: October 15, 2010.

This program is supported by the European Union through its Invest-in-Med initiative.