Deutsche Messe Expands Industrial Platform to Africa

Deutsche Messe announced that it will host Industrial Transformation Africa for the first time from September 29 through 1 October 2026 in Casablanca, Morocco. In parallel, the Smart Factory Academy Casablanca will be established to support companies year-round in the fields of automation, robotics and Industry 4.0. The event will be organized by Hannover Fairs MENA, Deutsche Messe AG’s regional subsidiary responsible for markets in the Middle East, Africa and CIS countries 365-Day Platform for Africa’s Industrial Transformation.

Powered by Deutsche Messe’s 365 Approach, Industrial Transformation Africa integrates exhibition, skills development, executive dialogue and technology transfer into one continuous platform. At its core, the initiative combines three strategic pillars:

• Industrial Transformation Africa Exhibition – a high-level marketplace for solution showcasing, lead generation and partnership building
• Smart Factory Academy Casablanca – a permanent center for technical training, skills development and hands-on technology demonstrations
• NextGen Manufacturing Summit Africa – a strategic dialogue platform for executives, policymakers and industry leaders, co-organized with UM6P

Together, these initiatives enable continuous engagement, ensuring that companies remain visible, connected and active within Africa’s industrial ecosystem all year round. Industrial Transformation Africa brings together companies presenting innovative solutions shaping the future of industry. The exhibitor portfolio reflects the technologies driving Africa’s next industrial decade, including Robotics & Automation, Smart Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Electric, Electronics & Energy Automation, Machine Automation & Technologies, Digital Manufacturing & Artificial Intelligence, Compressed Air & Vacuum Systems.

Industrial Transformation Africa will become a central platform for industrial innovation, international cooperation and technology transfer on the African continent to connect Africa’s industries, creating tomorrow. Through the Smart Factory Academy Casablanca, companies are provided with the opportunity to showcase their technologies in a practical and experiential environment throughout the year, forming –together with the trade fair – a 365-day strategy aimed at continuously strengthening Deutsche Messe’s presence in the African market.

Building on the strong foundation of its previous edition, the NextGen Manufacturing Summit Africa will take place in parallel with Industrial Transformation Africa 2026 in Casablanca. The Summit was previously hosted in Ben Guerir, Morocco, organized by UM6P Technix in partnership with Deutsche Messe, Innovx, Unido and Aisma, and welcomed more than 500 participants from 15 countries, alongside 50 high-level speakers representing industry, government and academia. By aligning the Summit with Industrial Transformation Africa in 2026, the platform further strengthens executive dialogue, policy exchange and strategic collaboration at the heart of Africa’s industrial transformation agenda.

Dr. Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe: "Africa is a rapidly expanding and strategically vital market for industry, with Morocco playing a central role in this landscape. Together, Industrial Transformation Africa and the Smart Factory Academy create a unique business model enabling us to engage with our customers throughout the year. This gives us the means to strengthen our global Hanover Messe network and create sustainable stimuli for industrial development in Africa."

The choice for Morocco

Strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Morocco has emerged as one of the continent’s most dynamic and business-friendly industrial hubs. Backed by government-led initiatives such as Morocco Now and the Industrial Acceleration Plan, the country offers investor-ready infrastructure, competitive incentives and logistics through Tanger Med Port.

With 12 Industrial Acceleration Zones, strong manufacturing clusters in automotive, aerospace, electronics and energy, and the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy accelerating Industry 4.0 adoption, Morocco provides a solid foundation for sustainable industrial growth. Industrial Transformation Africa directly supports the objectives of Morocco’s Digital Morocco 2030 strategy by translating policy priorities into concrete Industry 4.0 deployment, skills development and international technology transfer. Extensive free-trade agreements with the EU, the U.S. and African markets further grant access to a consumer base of over one billion people.

At the heart of this ecosystem, Casablanca stands as Morocco’s industrial and financial capital – home to leading manufacturers, a multilingual engineering workforce and excellent global connectivity by air and sea. Beyond Morocco, Industrial Transformation Africa is designed as a gateway connecting North Africa with West Africa, East Africa and the Mediterranean industrial ecosystem, enabling industrial cooperation in a wider geography.

Industrial Transformation Africa is not limited to a three-day event. It is a living industrial ecosystem that enables companies to position their solutions early, build long-term partnerships and align with Africa’s long-term industrial growth trajectory.

(Source: Deutsche Messe AG)