Sustainable Food Systems Innovation Network for the Global South
IIH West Africa
Structuring innovation ecosystems in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal to foster sustainable solutions in food systems—linked to international research.
An alliance born from bridging science and entrepreneurship
The IIH West Africa project is based on the exceptional vitality of innovation ecosystems in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. Marked by strong entrepreneurial creativity and a political will for structural transformation, these countries are today laboratories of sustainable solutions for the agriculture of tomorrow.
Joining forces to unlock innovation: breaking down silos
In West Africa, the rapid growth of entrepreneurship still too often faces fragmentation among stakeholders, where research, support structures, and the private sector operate in isolation. This disconnection limits the transformation of scientific knowledge into concrete market solutions and slows the growth of young businesses.
IIH West Africa was designed to break down these barriers by structuring an interconnected international network that places collaboration at the heart of its model. Our mission is to remove the remaining strategic obstacles that hinder the development of local innovators:
- Access to cutting-edge science: We create a direct bridge between research laboratories (university partners) and entrepreneurs to provide high-level scientific mentorship and access to technical platforms.
- The funding lever: By clarifying access to investors and preparing structures for scaling up, we facilitate the mobilization of the resources needed for prototyping and industrialization.
- By pooling expertise and tools, IIH West Africa enables the full potential of local structures (incubators, valorization services) to be unlocked by professionalizing them and integrating them into a global dynamic. This paradigm shift transforms the “research-to-market” continuum into a powerful engine for regional food sovereignty and the creation of sustainable jobs.
The IIH West Africa project (2025–2027) is a strategic alliance co-funded by the Fonds Équipe France of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Building on the founding impulse of MedVallée in Montpellier, it constitutes the first operational anchor of a global innovation network specialized in agri-agro-environment.
Project Sheet
This project is based on the exceptional vitality and creativity of innovation ecosystems in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. Co-designed with academic institutions and local support structures, it aims to amplify territorial impact by creating a smooth continuum between international scientific excellence and African entrepreneurial dynamics.
By stabilizing horizontal and mutually beneficial collaboration models, IIH West Africa builds the foundations of an interconnected African network. This co-development dynamic aims to expand in the near future to East and North Africa to build, together with all partners, sustainable solutions in support of global food sovereignty.
An Interconnected African Network
The Ambition of Local Transformation
◌ Benin- The dynamism of Sèmè City, a landmark technology hub in West Africa that propels innovative startups.
- The existence of territorial agricultural development poles (PDA), driven by a strong political will for modernization.
- The highlighting of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), a model modern industrial park aimed at maximizing the transformation of national resources (cashew, soybean, cotton).
A Structured Support Network
◌ Senegal- The strength of DER/FJ (Délégation Générale à l’Entrepreneuriat Rapide des Femmes et des Jeunes), a unique instrument for funding and technical support.
- The capacity to support the agroecological transition of food systems through academic partnerships and the consolidation of the continuum between research, valorization, and incubation, as with the PETTAL project.
- Leading academic expertise, with structures such as USSEIN and UGB already very active in incubation.
Scientific and Technical Excellence
◌ Côte d’Ivoire- The central role of INP-HB in Yamoussoukro, a center of excellence that trains future engineers and innovation leaders in African agriculture.
- The density of national agencies (such as ANADER or CNRA) dedicated to agricultural advisory and research, pillars of technology transfer.