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Rabat – Construction work for Morocco’s next-generation industrial zone in Fes will officially start on February 17, according to a press release.
Dubbed “Fez Smart Factory,” the industrial zone is a state-of-the-art industrial facility embedded with fully digitized equipment.
The first of its kind in Morocco, the facility is the fruit of a joint effort between the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez (UEMF), Morocco’s General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM), technology consulting, and engineering group Alten Delivery Center, and the Fez-Meknes regional council.
The digital manufacturing zone belongs to the fourth industrial revolution, industry 4.0 first, a concept born in Germany in 2011. Using cutting-edge technology, the project aims to construct a sustainable manufacturing facility, bridging the gap between the industry and contemporary social, environmental standards.
Fez Smart Factory draws funding from two primary shareholders – the Sustainable Industrial Zones Fund (FONZID) and Morocco’s Industry, Trade, Digital, and Green Economy Ministry.
The smart factory aims to set up a national model for future business initiatives aspiring to join the fourth industrial revolution. It also aims to provide a startup incubator and support existing industrial units to optimize production.
The FONZID fund will contribute 49.84% — over MAD 51 million ($5.4 million) — to the budget of the project, while the UEMF will contribute close to MAD 32 million ($3.4 million). The Fez-Meknes regional council’s funding is estimated at MAD 20 million ($2.1 million) of the MAD 104 million ($11 million) needed for the project.
Sectors benefiting from the services of the smart factory include agro-food, electronic-equipment manufacturing, renewable energy, digital engineering, artificial intelligence, and textile.
Scheduled to open its doors officially at the end of March 2022, the facility will comprise four sub-facilities – engineering services facility, a model factory, a smart factory, and a startup incubator.
