monacolife Archives - Page 232 of 240

What is the Blue Fund?

12/01/2021

Businesses in Monaco looking for a digital overhaul will have up to 70% of the project paid for by the government in an economic recovery package designed to help companies reach their full digital potential.
The initiative forms part of the Extended Monaco programme and is supported through the Blue Fund, which is aimed at promoting economic recovery in the Principality via digital technology.
Any Monegasque company is eligible for the subsidy.
“We are not just talking about e-commerce here,” Georges Gambarini, Smart City Programme Manager, tells Monaco Life. “Perhaps you employ 25 people and need someone to help you deploy an accounting software; maybe you need to create a safe and secure website; or you are a lawyer looking to use digital signatures… There are a lot of possibilities.”
There is a very simple criteria that needs to be met. Companies must be registered in the Principality, be able to prove that they operate genuine business in Monaco, and that they have carried out a ‘digital maturity self-assessment’ on the EME platform.
“The EME platform allows you to assess your situation and to identify areas that you need to work on,” says Mr Gambarini. “Then you put in a proposal for your project. The idea is to subsidise between 30% and 70% of the total project, while the company fills in the gap so they are involved in the project, which is important.”
To be accepted, the digital project must serve a clear purpose: to improve the customer experience, improve productivity, or to launch new economic models like a local marketplace platform or service on the sovereign cloud.
“We need to create a cluster of competence and knowledge in Monaco,” says Mr Gambarini. “We need to help companies in their digital transition, but we also need to support local companies who provide digital services, so they can grow and become more robust, and Monaco can in turn grow its ecosystem.”
The government is expected to launch online webinars to help explain the initiative and the potential of digital.
For more information on the Blue Fund initiative, click here.

Photo source: Pixabay

Prince highlights Med initiatives at Paris summit

by: Stephanie Horsman

12/01/2021

Prince Albert has addressed world leaders at the One Planet Summit in France’s capital, saying that the preservation of seas and forests is the preservation of humanity.
Prince Albert was in Paris for the One Planet Summit on Monday, organised by France and hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The environmental action meeting brought together more than 30 heads of state, government officials and leaders of international organisations, some via video conference, to discuss strategic plans and programmes in place or under development to protect the planet.
During the session dedicated to the protection of marine and terrestrial areas, Prince Albert highlighted the two initiatives developed in the Mediterranean with the support of his Foundation: the MedFund, dedicated to the preservation of marine protected areas, and Beyond Plastic Med – BeMed, which focusses on the fight against plastic pollution.
“To act for the preservation of the seas and forests is to act for the survival of humanity,” said the Prince.

Photo: Prince Albert sits next to French President Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders at the One Planet Summit in Paris on Monday, source Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

President Emmanuel Macron announced that the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, which was launched in 2019 by Costa Rica, France and Britain to set a target of protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030, has now been joined by 50 countries.
The UK’s Prince Charles made an “urgent appeal” for private sector leaders to back the Terra Carta, or Earth Charter, which encourages businesses to get on track with sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
But the enthusiasm shown by leaders was slightly underscored by the challenge of how all these projects would be realised financially. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said there was a deficit of €5.85 billion per year for projects that are trying to meet biodiversity targets by 2030.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has committed £3 billion (€3.35 billion) to climate change programmes and Canada’s Justin Trudeau offered $55 million (€45.26 million) to the UN Land Degradation Neutrality Fund.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pledged that the EU would devote “several hundred million euros” to research pertaining to biodiversity, animals and health, adding that the EU will be introducing new laws to restrict products harmful to the environment by the end of the year.
The one-day summit focused on four major topics: protecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems; promoting agroecology, a more sustainable way to grow food; increasing funding to protect biodiversity; and identifying links between deforestation and the health of humans and animals.

It served as a prelude to the upcoming COP26 Summit on climate, the COP15 Summit on biodiversity, and the COP15 Summit on desertification, which are all scheduled for later this year.

A side conference on Monday focused on investment for Africa’s Great Green Wall project, which involves efforts to stop the Sahara Desert from spreading further south. Launched in 2007, it aims to plant an arc of trees running 7,000 kilometres across Africa — from Senegal along the Atlantic all the way to Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden.
Another initiative involves a new coalition of Mediterranean countries working to better protect the sea from pollution and overfishing.

Photo source: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

CSM signs finance deal with coral molecule maker

by: Cassandra Tanti

11/01/2021

The Monaco Scientific Centre has become the first public establishment in Monaco to take an interest in a private company, signing a financial agreement with local startup Coraliotech, which recreates coral molecules to be used in health products.
The finance deal was signed between the Monaco Scientific Centre (CSM) and Coraliotech on Monday 11th January. It is the culmination of a collaboration that began between the CSM and Dr. Rachid Benchaouir, Founder and CEO of Coraliotech, in 2014.
Dr. Benchaouir had been carrying out joint research with the Departments of Marine Biology and Medical Biology, studying genetic diseases and DNA sequencing of corals. He discovered a coral molecule that can be used in the development of pharmacological and cosmetic products, for both innovative and sustainable purposes. The molecule helps protect skin cells against ultraviolet radiation and particularly toxic chemical agents.
These properties have been patented and the CSM is co-owner.
Mr. Benchaouir created Coraliotech with the support of the CSM, and the Monegasque marine biotechnology startup has been part of the MonacoTech incubator since the end of 2017. Its objective is to produce, promote and market products of interest to human health from these marine organisms, which have been recreated in a laboratory using coral DNA.
“The entry of CSM into the capital of Coraliotech demonstrates that science and the development of new applications are closely linked and makes it possible to capitalise on the benefits of this joint patent through the marketing of patented products or operating licenses,” said the government in a press statement. “With this signature… the CSM becomes the first Monegasque public establishment to enter the capital of a private company.”

Photo of Dr R. Benchaouir and Pr P. Rampal signing the financial agreement, by Michaël Alesi/Government Communication Department

Bella’s guide to seasonal bargain shopping

by: Isabella Marino

11/01/2021

The end-of-season sales is definitely my favourite time of the year. I love shopping for beautiful designer items, but I consider myself a real bargain shopper.
After finding the perfect Christmas gifts for everyone else, it is time to put yourself first.
If you love shopping as much as I do, you don’t have to cut shopping out of your life. The trick is to buy smart, timeless pieces with great quality instead of wasting money on useless items during the year. It is all about timing and spotting ‘the pearl’.
The ecosystem is also a very important factor for the fashion industry. Sustainability has recently become a significant new driver in consumers’ purchasing decisions. A drop in demand caused by travel restrictions across the world, store closures and national lockdowns have led to excess inventory. Destroying unsold stock is a widely used but rarely discussed technique that luxury companies perform to maintain the scarcity of their goods and the exclusivity of their brand image. But incineration has some very negative consequences. Burning clothes releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which exacerbates global warming. Incineration of clothes made from synthetic fibres may also release plastic microfibers into the atmosphere.
But after receiving a lot of media criticism, some brands have stopped the practice and are now selling part of the unsold inventory in outlets or discounted in stores during the official sales period.
Most of my favourite brands are offering sales on autumn/winter merchandise and I have selected for you a mix of the best designer items which are on sale right now, as well as high street bargains.
Sales items on display can look messy sometimes, so I have found some amazing pieces for you. But hurry up, they’re selling out fast!
And remember, just because it is marked down doesn’t mean you’re getting a bargain. You need to be aware of what the item usually costs, and buying something that you don’t really need is never a bargain, no matter how discounted the price is.

Instagram: _bella_marino_

Government launches Monaco Boost incubator

by: Cassandra Tanti

07/01/2021

Monaco’s entrepreneurial eco-system has received a major “boost” thanks to the opening of another government funded start-up incubator capable of supporting 108 businesses.
Monaco Boost was officially launched on Wednesday 6^th January by Minister of State Pierre Dartout, Finance and Economy Minister Jean Castellini and President of the National Council Stephane Valeri.
Like its sister incubator MonacoTech created in 2017, Monaco Boost is able to provide office space to start-ups looking to get established and register as a company in the Principality.
“I welcome the implementation of this tool available to Monaco’s entrepreneurs who create and innovate, and which will be used to promote economic initiatives in the Principality,” said the minister of state.
Monaco Boost is located in zone F of Fontvieille and is 100% owned by the State, with Laurence Garino, head of the Monaco Welcome Office, taking on the position of administrator.

Photo by Michael Alesi – Government Communication Department

The 1,200 square metre business centre is made up of 32 closed office spaces, two co-working areas that include 16 shared offices and 12 “hot spots”, two meeting rooms, one multipurpose room, a cafeteria, a relaxation area and a terrace.
The whole space is capable of accommodating 108 companies.
The government has indicated that by the end of January 2021, a call for applications will be launched for individual offices, with a view to installing the first contractors in April 2021. The Allocation Commission will be chaired by the Minister of Finance and Economy Jean Castellini and include National Council representatives, the Administration des Domaines, the Directorate of Economic Expansion, and SAM Monaco Boost.

Photo by Michael Alesi – Government Communication Department

Related stories:

Interview: MonacoTech Director Lionel Galfré

Luxury collections auction at the Hermitage

by: Stephanie Horsman

06/01/2021

Featuring at this year’s winter sales by Artcurial will be ‘Property of a Lady’, a special collection of over 100 exquisite jewellery pieces accumulated by one owner over the course of four decades.

Artcurial Monaco will be hosting its winter auction from 19^th to 21^st January at the Hermitage Hotel where unique pieces of jewellery, exceptional timepieces and stunning ladies handbags will go under the gavel to the highest bidders.

“Our fine jewellery, collector watches and Hermès and luxury handbags departments unearthed wonderful treasures during a very active and positive quarter. This season will be deeply marked by the irresistible ‘Property of a Lady’ collection which includes a meticulously curated selection of highly original and elegant Cartier jewellery and watches,” said Louise Grether, Director of Artcurial Monaco.

There will be two preview days, on 17^th and 18^th, where buyers can narrow their choices before the actual event.

First up on Tuesday 19^th January at noon will be over 60 lots of Hermes handbags. Also going up for sale are handbags from Louis Vuitton, Dior and Chanel.

The Hermes collections feature newer editions such as the 24/24 and the mini Roulis, as well as several limited-edition models like a Birkin Tressage 30 and a Birkin Shadow 35 as well as a super rare mini Constance 18 in Salvador lizard with gold plating.

Then at 4pm, roughly 50 men’s watches go on the block. Included in the auction are an extremely hard to find Philippe Patek from 1945. This particular watch has been in the same family since it was first purchased and is of “dazzling quality”. Additionally, there will be two Rolex Comex watches and a Paul Newman Daytona up for grabs.

The following day, 20^th January at 11am, 2pm and 5pm, more than 330 lots of exquisite jewellery will be available to bid on, including a collection of over 100 pieces being offered by the same owner and collected over a 40-year period from her husband. Artcurial is calling this special compilation ‘Property of a Lady’ and it features bracelets, rings and necklaces from various well-known jewellers such as Tiffany, Garrard and Asprey, but also a fine collection of Cartier pieces including many made with the iconic panther design.

Pink, blue, yellow and white diamonds are also going under the gavel, one being an exceptional stone of 29 carats. The pieces being sold range from the Art Deco era to the 1980’s and include works from artists such as César, Boivin and Lalanne.

The final day will be dedicated to ladies’ timepieces from 2pm on 21^st January with more than 80 watches being presented, including 34 from the ‘Property of a Lady’ collection.