French giant CMA CGM announced the creation of Ze Box, its first international startup incubator, based in Marseilles. Starting June 2018, it will house a dozen of startups coming from all around the world to develop their potential.
Speaking at the ‘Salon des Entrepreneurs’ in Marseilles last October, CEO Rodolphe Saadé announced the company’s intention to create its own start-up incubator to attract them from around the world. Ze Box is part of CMA CGM’s strategy to make digitalization one of the pillars of its development and to accelerate, complete and strengthen the initiatives that have already been launched by the Group within the past months.
Such initiatives include the appointment of a worldwide team of Chief Digital Officers and the creation of CMA CGM Ventures, the corporate venture structure dedicated to investments in innovative technologies, as well as support for Le Carburateur, a startup incubator for the northern districts of Marseilles, with financial support awarded to 5 businesses related to the sea, transport and logistics sectors.
In addition, the group has partnered with several innovators as Aix Marseille French Tech, The Camp, Infosys, to accelerate the transformation of its information system, as well as with major ebusiness companies like Alibaba.
“With Ze Box, CMA CGM is accelerating its digital strategy and is developing the means to become the transportation industry’s leader in innovation. By combining our expertise with the one of the start-ups that will be hosted within Ze Box, we will develop global innovations that create value for our customers and for CMA CGM. Thanks to Ze box, our ambition is to attract to France the best start-ups from all around the world,” stated Mr. Saadé.
Ze Box is launched within a partnership with the Aix-Marseilles University and the Aix-Marseille Provence Métropole.
