Since its establishment in 2017, EMERGING Valley has become an important meeting point for technology bridges between Europe and Africa. The 9th edition, scheduled to take place on November 26, 2025 at the thecamp innovation campus, will take on a new dimension by consolidating partnerships with Asia and the Middle East, establishing Marseille as a catalyst for digital cooperation between the continents. Start-ups, investors, diaspora entrepreneurs, and high-level public decision-makers will come together to co-create tomorrow’s digital alliances.
Comprehensive AI at the center of the discussion
The 2025 edition focuses on innovative financing, ethical and sustainable artificial intelligence, startup internationalization, and Mediterranean cooperation. The aim is to develop cross-border co-investment models to support high-impact startups. Inclusive AI, or ‘Tech for Good’, will be at the center of the discussion, with international experts highlighting specific use cases for African development. The summit will also facilitate a “soft landing” for African companies wishing to establish themselves in Europe, while the Positive Mediterranean Initiative in partnership with AFD Group will showcase Euro-Mediterranean cooperation through innovative solutions.
Aix-Marseille-Provence was chosen deliberately. The metropolitan area benefits from excellent connectivity through numerous undersea cables, providing a digital bridge between Europe, Africa and Asia. Thecamp campus is designed to foster exchange, with modular infrastructure and sustainable architecture providing an environment that fosters collaboration across continents.
The numbers indicate the scale of the event. EMERGING Valley has already welcomed more than 13,600 attendees, 140 investors, 850 speakers, and 750 startups from nearly 60 countries. In 2024, more than 100 startups and 150 speakers participated in approximately 30 sessions, demonstrating the continued growth of the Summit.
Big geopolitical and digital ambitions: stronger interconnections between Africa, Europe and Asia
The 2025 edition boasts big geopolitical and digital ambitions. It aims to strengthen interconnectivity between Africa, Europe and Asia, especially through the IMEC Corridor (India-Middle East-Europe), which is a strategic instrument for building transcontinental technology bridges. There are many specific initiatives. The Provence Africa Connect Prize, presented during the summit, highlights entrepreneurs’ commitment to sustainable innovation and recognizes high-impact transcontinental projects.
However, significant challenges remain. Intercontinental finance remains complex due to regulatory differences, cultural barriers, and fragmented markets. The ability of African startups to make a “soft landing” depends on the ability of stakeholders to build effective and durable bridges. Data sovereignty and AI ethics are also important issues and require a harmonized regulatory framework to ensure responsible use and privacy protection.
A strategic and symbolic crossroads
Despite these constraints, EMERGING Valley 2025 remains a strategic and symbolic crossroads. This is not just a technical conference, but an embodiment of the desire to incorporate Asian partners and build economic, cultural and geopolitical bridges between Europe and Africa. The alliances built have the potential to generate sustainable projects, strengthen cross-continental synergies and provide concrete opportunities for start-ups and investors. The real challenge is to translate commitment into measurable action through sustained collaboration and concrete projects. The summit could thus lay the foundations for sustainable European-African digital cooperation, with Marseille as a strategic hub.
For more information: https://www.emergingvalley.online/en/
