The SME incubator in Niger (CIPMEN) is part of the Afric’Innov programme, partially supported by AFD. It was set up in 2013 to improve the chances of growth and the survival rate of Nigerien SMEs in ICT, renewable energies and the environment. This is a non-profit public-private partnership between the public authorities in Niger and several major private corporations (Orange CSR, Total, Veolia, CTIC Dakar, etc.).

The aims are to help start-ups access funding and national and international markets, limit administrative and tax red tape and train young talents, in particular in digital technology.

CIPMEN offers start-ups several personalised services, including:

• use of premises adapted and equipped for SMEs (coworking Coworking Type of organisation of work comprising two notions: a shared work space and a network of workers (community) encouraging exchanges and opening. Coworking spaces are considered third places. spaces);
• professional, commercial, administrative and technical consultation
• facilitation of access to funding
• integration into a network of entrepreneurs, academics, suppliers, clients and the business world in general;
• company accounting management and tax exemptions.

The start-ups chosen for this programme are the winners of the Start-up week-end Niamey.

http://www.cipmen.org/

Lessons learnt

• Organising open innovation events allows the local authority to identify innovative stakeholders on its territory.
• The municipal public sector can guide supportive structures to the private sector on themes that are in the public interest (ICT, renewable energies, environment, etc.).