Marseille 2026: Can the Mediterranean build its own future in artificial intelligence?

The third Mediterranean Artificial Intelligence Forum (FMIA) took place at Marseille's Palais du Pharo, with over 500 participants from various sectors. The forum aimed to explore how the Mediterranean region could strengthen its technological capabilities and develop a distinct approach to artificial intelligence (AI), amidst the global dominance of American and Chinese tech companies.

A strategic study by French mathematician Cédric Villani and Lamiae Azizi, Scientific Director of AI at Morocco's Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, examined AI ecosystems in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. The report highlighted the region's potential due to young talent, expanding research capabilities, and emerging entrepreneurship. However, it also identified significant challenges such as limited financing, computing infrastructure, specialized training, and international markets.

Instead of competing with global tech giants, the study recommended a resource-efficient approach tailored to regional priorities, particularly in agriculture, healthcare, education, water management, and industrial development. The forum also created a co-creation program that selected 16 project leaders from 126 proposals to develop AI solutions for various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and maritime activities.

Digital sovereignty, data governance, education, ecological transition, and social inclusion were key topics discussed at the forum. To support entrepreneurship and investment, the event featured over 250 business-to-business meetings, showcased emerging companies at the Business Expo, and introduced Med IA, a Bpifrance investment community on EuroQuity. Additionally, ten AI startups from the five countries were selected for a six-month acceleration programme, receiving up to €30,000 in support.

The FMIA Research Challenge recognized scientific innovation, with the Economic Innovation Prize awarded to Farah Jemili from Tunisia for her AI application in olive oil authentication and yield forecasting, while the Social Innovation Prize went to Tarik Bouramtane from Morocco for his project on groundwater level assessment using AI. These awards showcased the potential of African research institutions to develop practical AI applications addressing regional priorities.