Innovation in the spotlight at Monaco Business event

20/09/2024

From cybersecurity and banking to health and wellness, shopping and everything in between, the recent edition of Monaco Business, held at Le Méridien Beach Plaza’s Sea Club, sought to shine a light on the innovations and innovative ideas being nurtured in the Principality.

Monaco Life attended the event on 19th September to meet with a range of entrepreneurs and spokespeople from the engaging businesses that took part in the 12th edition of Monaco Business.

Among them was the well-known app Carlo, a payment app designed to enhance shopping experiences in Monaco. It is now in its fifth year of operations and was present for the third consecutive year at the event.

Camillo Rubesa, who is part of Carlo’s Customer Success team, shared, “We decided to exhibit again because we are working a lot with other businesses and want to bring on a few new ones. Monaco Business is a great opportunity to meet these other enterprises and establish B2B partnerships.”

Monaco Wellness System, represented by Laurent Devivi, was another returning exhibitor. The company uses innovative tools and methods to provide tailored health and well-being support to both individuals and companies.

The company has recently released a new massage chair, which debuted at the exhibition and caught the eye of a number of visitors.

“We are pleased so far with the exposition results, as quite a few individuals and businesses have approached us regarding the new massage chair,” said a representative from Monaco Wellness System.

*Monaco Wellness System’s new massage chair exhibited for the first time. Photo by Monaco Life*

Financial services were well represented at Monaco Business, notably by Crédit Agricole Monaco, a partner of the show. A longstanding player in Monaco’s business landscape, the private bank branch has been operating since 1990 as a specialist in wealth management. Since October 2015, it has provided corporate banking services to support businesses through their developmental stages.

“We are involved in local events like Monaco Business with the goal of discovering new companies and innovations entering the Monaco market, as well as connecting with potential clients who may need our advice,” said Lucas Allegre, Client Advisor for Entrepreneurs at Crédit Agricole Monaco.

Echoing his sentiments, Paul Brossard from the sales team at ITSB, an important player in Monaco’s information systems consulting sector for over a decade, remarked, “Events like Monaco Business are key for us to showcase our expertise and connect with potential clients.”

From the well-established to the newcomers in the Monegasque landscape, cybersecurity firm Cyber Panther was launched in Monaco just two months ago. The company was represented at Monaco Business by CEO Gia Fisher, a cybersecurity specialist from the United States who has worked with some of the country’s largest intelligence agencies. Fisher was invited to establish Cyber Panther in the Principality to address the growing need for cybersecurity solutions.

*Gia Fisher, CEO and founder of Cyber Panther. Photo by Monaco Life*

She explained, “In Monaco, there was a clear need for my services, which is probably why I was approved so quickly. While the Principality has many companies eager to assist with data protection, there isn’t a firm that offers what I do in the same way. My goal over the next few years is to strengthen local businesses by ensuring they are secure in their data protection, providing peace of mind for their clients. I’m here to showcase what Cyber Panther offers and to put us on Monaco’s map.”

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photos by Monaco Life

Nice-Ventimiglia night train: new deal to keep trains running during rail upgrades

by: Cassandra Tanti

20/09/2024

The Principality of Monaco and the Région Sud have successfully negotiated a new plan for the upcoming rail works on the Nice-Ventimiglia line, ensuring that disruptions to train services will be minimised while essential infrastructure upgrades are carried out.

The revised plan was agreed upon during a high-level meeting on Friday 20th September, attended by Monaco’s Minister of Infrastructure Céline Caron-Dagioni, Région Sud Vice-President Jean-Pierre Serrus, and representatives from SNCF.

According to a statement by the Monaco government, the revised schedule, which covers works from 15th September 2024 to 26th June 2025, introduces several key changes aimed at accommodating both daily commuters and major event-goers.

Train services, initially set to stop at 9pm, will now run until 10pm. Additionally, on nights when significant sporting events take place, such as Champions League matches with late start times, the works will be postponed to avoid service disruptions. In order to accommodate these changes, morning works will be extended, although without affecting the regular morning transport schedule.

This agreement follows earlier efforts by Monaco and the Région Sud to contest the original SNCF proposals. Both parties had voiced concerns over the potential impact on travellers, especially those commuting regularly between Nice and Ventimiglia. Previous meetings held on 13th and 16th September had already succeeded in delaying the start of the works and in ensuring that key matches, such as AS Monaco’s recent game against FC Barcelona on 19th September, were not affected by evening rail closures.

The Principality of Monaco and the Région Sud have both expressed satisfaction with the revised schedule, which they believe reflects the needs of travellers as well as the authorities in Monaco.

Photo: Government Communication Department

Autumn fun fair returning to Port Hercule with more rides and attractions than ever before

by: Stephanie Horsman

20/09/2024

Monaco’s popular autumn fun fair will be back in Port Hercule for a full month, starting from 18th October.

The changing of the seasons means one thing for the children and young people of Monaco: very soon, Port Hercule’s popular fun fair will be returning to the Quai Albert Ier, and this year is set to be bigger and better than ever before.

Running from 18th October until 19th November, the fun fair has become synonymous with Monaco’s All Saints’ half-term break.

This year’s edition will feature a grand total of 78 attractions and stands, from rides and games to sweet and savoury delights that will appeal to all ages. Little ones will enjoy the Palais du Rire and the Cars-themed and Astrojet rides, while thrill-seekers can test their boundaries on the Aviator or the Atmosfear.

Visitors will also be able to indulge in classic fairground delights such as waffles, Hungarian brioches and crêpes, as well as hot dogs and the region’s perennial favourite snack of socca.

PRACTICAL INFO

As with previous years, safety remains a top priority at the Mairie de Monaco-organised event. Eight entrances, located on both the upper and lower parts of Quai Albert Ier, will provide access to the fairgrounds, and all bags will be checked upon entry. Once capacity is reached, access to the fair will be temporarily suspended, so be sure to check the live attendance updates on the Mairie’s website before heading over.

The fair will operate daily, with the food stands and children’s rides opening at 11am and closing at 11pm on weekdays. On Fridays, Saturdays and the eves of public holidays, the fair will stay open until midnight. On 18th November, the eve of Monaco’s National Day, the fun fair will run until 1am.

For more information, click here.

Photo credit: Mairie de Monaco

US passport services finally enter the 21st century with online renewals

by: Stephanie Horsman

20/09/2024

American passport holders can now renew their passports online, eliminating the need for the traditional paper-based application process. The US State Department announced that its online passport renewal system was fully operational and ready to go in mid-September.

In a move long in the making, the US State Department has joined the digital age, allowing Americans to sidestep mail-in passport renewal requests and instead process their applications via a new online service.

The system is currently only available to adult passport holders whose passports expired in the past five years or will expire within the next 12 months. First-time applicants, minors, expedited renewals and citizens living abroad will still need to follow the old method, meaning that Americans living in Monaco and elsewhere in the Côte d’Azur must continue using the paper-based process for now.

MODERNISING SERVICES

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the move is part of a broader effort to modernise passport services.

“By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to provide the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible,” he said in a statement.

The new scheme is expected to benefit approximately five million Americans annually. In 2023, the State Department processed 24 million passports, around 40% of which were renewals. The online option aims to speed up the process and reduce the pressure on paper-based services, which have been facing a backlog since the Covid pandemic.

OTHER SERVICES SOON TO FOLLOW

Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs and the person in charge of the nation’s passport service, says that there are plans to further expand digital options in the coming years. Potential expansions will include renewals for Americans living abroad, second and subsequent renewals, and children’s passport renewals.

“This is not going to be the last thing that we do,” she told the US media. “We want to see how this goes, and then we’ll start looking at ways to continue to make this service available to more American citizens in the coming months and years.”

For more information, click here.

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CFM Indosuez Wealth Management donates €51,000 to Flavien Foundation

by: Stephanie Horsman

20/09/2024

The Flavien Foundation, a Monaco-based paediatric cancer charity, has received a generous donation of just over €51,000 from CFM Indosuez Wealth Management. The funds, generated through a solidarity-based client investment programme, have been earmarked for the stem cell and brain tumour research team at the Monaco Scientific Centre.

The foundation’s efforts to help fund important childhood brain cancer research have received a major boost thanks to the €51,112 cheque, which was presented to Denis Maccario, the founder of the Flavien Foundation, and the Monaco Scientific Centre’s (CSM) Dr. Vincent Picco earlier this month. The donation was made possible through a unique solidarity financing offer put forward by CFM Indosuez Wealth Management, in collaboration with Crédit Agricole CIB, which allowed clients to increase their socially responsible investments through contributions to projects that provide social value.

The CSM will be the ultimate recipient of the donation, and the funds will be used to support the team led by Dr Picco as they continue to work on alternative treatments for children suffering from brain tumours.

“Unlike cancers that affect adults, most paediatric cancers are composed of cells comparable to embryonic cells,” says Dr Picco, Research Lead Officer of the Mechanisms of Resistance to Targeted Therapies team in the CSM’s Medical Biology Department. “This suggests that a disruption in the formation of the nervous system during foetal development is responsible for their onset. However, analysing these phenomena using vertebrate study models, such as laboratory mice, is extremely complex and raises significant ethical issues.”

See more: Paediatric cancer: CSM reports encouraging results following clinical trials

To address these challenges, the CSM has partnered with Eric Röttinger’s team at the Cancer and Aging Research Institute in Nice, which specialises in the study of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. While this may seem an unusual collaboration, it is scientifically sound.

“Although these marine invertebrates have an extremely simple nervous system, their genetics are quite comparable to those of humans,” says Röttinger. “Additionally, we can perform genetic manipulations on these animals, particularly during their embryonic development.”

These characteristics allow scientists to study the onset of tumours caused by irregular genes formed early in nervous system development.

“Developing this study model will help us understand the origin and nature of paediatric cancers, with the ultimate aim of creating more specific and less toxic therapies than those currently available,” explains Dr Picco.

For CFM Indosuez’s clients, investments in schemes such as this solidarity-based programme offer them a chance to make a meaningful difference in the community.

“CFM Indosuez, the Flavien Foundation, and the Monaco Scientific Centre share a common societal ambition to support vulnerable children,” adds Mathieu Ferragut, CEO of CFM Indosuez Wealth Management. “This support also adds to Indosuez Group’s commitment to the Brain Institute in France.”

L-R in photo: Mathieu Ferragut, CEO of CFM Indosuez Wealth Management; Dr Vincent Picco of the CSM; and Denis Maccario, the founder of the Flavien Foundation. Photo supplied

The universes of the Ritz Paris to be auctioned at Artcurial this September

by: Cassandra Tanti

20/09/2024

Artcurial has announced the upcoming auction of nearly 1,500 exclusive items from the iconic Ritz Paris, scheduled to take place on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of September.

The collection celebrates over 125 years of history, featuring fine porcelain tableware, crystal glasses adorned with the Ritz emblem, copper kitchenware, and emblematic pieces from the legendary Bar Hemingway and the hotel’s renowned spa.

This auction offers enthusiasts and collectors the unique opportunity to own a piece of the Ritz’s storied past. Items range from copper kitchen sets and ornate service trays to the timeless “Platine” and “Impérial” porcelain collections, created for the Ritz’s 2016 reopening. Among the highlights are pieces like a set of 12 espresso cups and saucers (estimated at €200-400) and the grand banquette from the Bar Hemingway (estimated at €1,500-2,000).

Public viewings of selected lots will be held at the Hôtel Marcel Dassault on the 21st, 23rd, and 24th of September 2024, prior to the auction.

For more details about the auction and specific items, visit the official Artcurial website.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Photo source: Artcurial

Day: 20 September 2024

Innovation in the spotlight at Monaco Business event

Nice-Ventimiglia night train: new deal to keep trains running during rail upgrades