As part of the Seeds of Innovation II initiative, organized by the Agrifood Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate Program, and in collaboration with EBRD, a high-level panel titled ““Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy in Agri-Food Innovation” was organized. The event brought together key players from government, academia, Business Support, and industry to explore how Lebanon can strengthen its agri-food R&D ecosystem and transform research into market-ready solutions. 

Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy: Advancing Agri-Food Innovation in Lebanon 

Lebanon Innovate, under the Seeds of Innovation II initiative organized by the Agrifood Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) as part of the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate Program, recently hosted a high-level panel on “Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy in Agri-Food Innovation”. This panel brought together governments, academics, financiers and industry leaders to explore how Lebanon can strengthen its Agri-food R&D ecosystem and and turn research into market-ready solutions.  

The panel featured Mr.s Carla Wehbe – Head of Intellectual Property at the Ministry of Economy & Trade, Mr. Jad Zgheib – Principal Manager at EBRD, Dr. Sandy Rihana – Director of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at USEK, and Mrs. Nathalie Kazan – General Manager at Delta Group. 

A central theme of the conversation was the importance of intellectual property as a foundation for innovation. Carla Wehbe emphasized that protection must begin at the earliest stages of research, stressing that awareness and guidance are essential for both academia and the private sector. The ministry has launched training programs for schools and universities and is supporting the development of IP-focused educational programs, while also leveraging international frameworks to safeguard Lebanese innovations. For Mrs. Wehbe, embedding IP protection into the innovation process ensures that ideas have the time and space to develop into viable products.  

From the academic perspective, Dr. Sandy Rihana explained how USEK’s TTO bridges research and market application by supporting inventors throughout the innovation journey. The office offers market studies, technical assessments and legal guidance. By connecting researchers with BSOs, industry partners and advisors, the TTO ensures innovations respond to real market needs. Dr. Rihana highlighted key areas in agrifood innovation, such as automation, smart farming and waste valorization, demonstrating how research can adapt to create solutions that are both technically and commercially viable.   

Representing the financial and developmental perspective, Jad Zgheib shared the role of structured support programs in fostering collaboration between universities and companies. By offering financial and technical guidance, these programs help innovators move from research to practical application. Mr. Zgheib noted that while companies may approach innovation cautiously, the agri-food sector is showing a strong willingness to experiment, especially when supported by expertise and resources that link research to market needs.   

Bringing the industry perspective, Mrs. Nathalie Kazan outlined Delta Group’s journey in transforming research into market-ready products. With targeted support from EBRD, the company collaborated with researchers to develop a range of Mediterranean food mixes under the “Makadear” sub-brand. Combining R&D, branding, packaging, marketing, Delta Group demonstrated how practical collaboration across disciplines can turn ideas into products that meet consumer needs. Mrs. Kazan emphasized that successful innovation requires both academic insight and practical expertise, highlighting the value of multi-disciplinary teamwork and access to market-oriented resources.  

Panelists concluded by identifying priorities to accelerate agri-food innovation in Lebanon: 

• Establishing shared platforms for collaboration 

• Strengthening IP protection and literacy 

• Creating dedicated support mechanisms for SMEs 

• Promoting mentorship opportunities from larger companies to smaller innovators. 

The discussion highlighted that Lebanon’s agri-food innovation potential lies in integrating research, industry, and policy into a cohesive ecosystem. By institutionalizing TTOs, promoting IP awareness, and providing the necessary technical and financial support, Lebanon can transform fragmented initiatives into a connected, resilient, and sustainable ecosystem. 

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Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Minister for the Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Lebanon marked a major milestone with the official launch of the ICT Knowledge & Innovation Community (ICT KIC) on June 24, 2025, at the Mövenpick Hotel, Beirut. 

Themed “Lebanon’s Digital Leap: Transforming Industries,” the event was organized in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and supported by the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate program. It brought together leaders from government, academia, and the private sector to explore how collaboration and innovation can digitally modernize Lebanon’s economy—starting with manufacturing. 

“This is not just a launch — it’s a signal that Lebanon is ready to leap forward digitally,” said Carla Saba, Deputy General Manager at Berytech, in her opening remarks. 

The Engine Behind Lebanon’s Digital Future 

The ICT Knowledge & Innovation Community (ICT KIC) is a national platform that brings together universities, companies, public institutions, and research centers to strengthen collaboration, promote technology transfer, and accelerate innovation. Established under the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate program and led by IRALEB and Berytech, the ICT KIC aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry—driving economic growth, advancing applied research, and positioning Lebanon as a regional hub for digital innovation. 

“We’re creating a community that bridges academia and industry, turning research into scalable, practical innovation,” said Ralph Sioufi, CEO of Itiology and focal point for the ICT KIC, who introduced the community’s core mission, sectoral focus, and Roadmap to 2025. 

As part of its 2025 roadmap, the ICT Knowledge and Innovation Community (ICT KIC) is focusing on three strategic pillars: identifying funding opportunities for researchers and industries, building ICT talent through tailored training for professionals, graduates, and professors, and exploring global tech trends—such as AI, cloud computing, and facial recognition—to deliver localized insights. These efforts aim to boost R&D and innovation output, strengthen Lebanon’s talent pool in emerging technologies, reduce brain drain by creating job opportunities, and engage the diaspora in driving local capacity-building.

Real Tech, Real Impact 

The event showcased real-world applications already making a difference in Lebanese industries: 

• Mario Akl, General Manager at MaliaTec, demonstrated how industrial IoT is transforming factories into connected ecosystems. His deployment of smart sensors illustrated the power of real-time visibility and predictive maintenance. 

• Cynthia Abou Khater, Strategy Manager at Technica, presented her vision for integrating hardware and software roboticization into production lines. She highlighted how automation can enhance efficiency while protecting skilled jobs. 

• Mouchir Housseini, Levant Regional Director at THALES Group, emphasized the role of AI in optimizing industrial operations and securing infrastructure. He also spotlighted THALES Lebanon’s Center of Excellence and its collaboration with local universities to recruit and develop top Lebanese talent. 

A video presentation by Walid Karam, Director of HTP Academy, showcased how Lebanon’s youth and academia are entering the digital economy with creativity, energy, and entrepreneurial drive. 

“True transformation begins with smooth infrastructure,” said Maroun Chammas, Chairman and CEO of Berytech. “KIC is not just about launching a new community—it’s about launching a new digital chapter for Lebanon.” 

A National Vision for Innovation 

In his keynote address, H.E. Dr. Kamal Shehadi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enabling innovation: 

“We live in the age of networks, and technology is only part of that. What we heard today is the institutionalization of that network by linking people together — that’s exactly what we’re looking for.” 

He emphasized the Ministry’s alignment with the ICT KIC’s vision, outlining key national priorities: legislation, cybersecurity, and intellectual property rights. He also revealed that a comprehensive digital infrastructure strategy is already in place and awaiting approval from the Council of Ministers. 

Dr. Shehadi called for broader collaboration—not only among government and private stakeholders, but also with Lebanon’s diaspora and international tech leaders. He emphasized that Lebanese talent is the country’s most valuable asset and must be nurtured through opportunity and support: 

“The pipeline of innovation must be further strengthened — it is the heart of our digital vision.” 

Engaging Dialogue and Cross-Sector Collaboration 

A panel discussion titled “Paving the Way Toward Digitalization: Challenges and Opportunities in Lebanon’s Manufacturing Sector” was moderated by Zakie Karam, Co-founder and General Manager at Don Telecom. Panelists included Mario Akl, Cynthia Abou Khater, and Mouchir Housseini, who built on their presentations to discuss practical strategies and systemic barriers. The conversation underscored the need for clear policy frameworks, R&D incentives, and sustained public-private dialogue to support digital adoption. 

About the ICT KIC

A Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) is a structured platform that connects key players in the innovation ecosystem—including academia, industry, government, and research institutions—to turn knowledge into impact.

The ICT KIC, launched under the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate program and led by IRALEB and Berytech, plays this role for Lebanon’s digital transformation. Its mission is to digitally modernize priority sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare by enabling technology transfer, fostering applied research, supporting startups, and driving workforce upskilling.

If you have expertise, resources, or training programs to offer, we warmly invite you to join us in empowering Lebanon’s ICT ecosystem. Together, we can provide capacity-building courses, mentorship, and share valuable insights to boost innovation, strengthen talent, and create meaningful impact. 

 Reach out to us to on ayla.ghaziri@berytech.org and to learn more about the ICT KIC or to become a member, visit:
https://berytech.org/programs/lebanon-innovate/knowledge-innovation-communities/

This press release was compiled based on a detailed report by: Dr. Elie Nasr, ICT KIC Member and Chairperson of Computer Science, and Information & Communications Technology Departments at the American University of Science and Technology.

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Egypt’s economy is powered by two dynamic types of business clusters: Industrial Zones and Organic Clusters.

• Industrial Zones are government-planned and span over 275 areas focused on furniture, food processing, apparel, and metalworks. Despite tax incentives, they often lack coordination and synergy.

• Over 145 Organic Clusters, on the other hand, emerge naturally, especially in textiles, agriculture, mining, and woodwork. Though largely informal, they show strong potential for collaboration and innovation.

Understanding and strengthening these clusters is key to unlocking inclusive economic growth.

What’s Holding Clusters Back?

Despite their contribution to the national economy, Egypt’s clusters face major obstacles: No legal recognition or institutional support, lack of operational guidelines and lack of targeted incentives or alignment with national strategies. Without a clear framework, clusters struggle to scale, attract investment, or contribute meaningfully to national development.

A Roadmap for Change

The EuroMed Clusters Forward project — funded by the European Union and led by ANIMA Investment Network, in collaboration with ICEAlex and Berytech outlines a bold roadmap to:

• Establish a formal legal and institutional framework
• Align clusters with Egypt’s economic priorities
• Boost access to finance and build local capacity

Why It Matters

By implementing these recommendations, Egypt can transform its clusters into engines of innovation, job creation, and export growth—benefiting both local communities and the national economy.

Explore the full report: Enabling the Clusters Regulatory Framework in Egypt – a blueprint for a more competitive, connected, and sustainable cluster ecosystem.

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Learn with Jawad as he discusses the impact of climate change on water resources, examines innovative approaches within Lebanon’s public water sector, and highlights the importance of understanding and effectively managing water resources in a rapidly changing world.

About The Trainer

Jawad Taher is a Water & Development Advisor & Consultant and has been working in the Lebanese water sector since late 2013 across humanitarian, stabilization, and development programming and coordination. He is currently working with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) as a Water Advisor within the Enhancing Water Resource Management (WAMA) project, primarily focusing on Non-Revenue Water and supporting engagement with and capacity building of public institutions. Jawad has also been engaged with several other organizations on sectoral strategy development, thematic training, and business development. He is pursuing an MSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex.

About the Learning Series

The Learning Series offers a collection of 15-minute learning videos featuring passionate experts from the Berytech Community. In these condensed videos, we dive into curated topics, including Agriculture, Food, Renewable Energy, and Clean Technology; providing rich and concise content on the latest trends, advancements, challenges, and opportunities in these sectors locally, regionally, and internationally.

This episode of the learning series was produced under the Clyntech Accelerator Program. The Clyntech Accelerator Program was conceived to make sure Lebanon is sourcing and supporting startups with clean technology solutions tackling the quickly evolving environmental challenges. The Clyntech Accelerator Program was launched by Berytech and co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lebanon to enable the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem and stimulate innovation and startup creation in the clean technology sectors.

Berytech supports innovations across these sectors by offering startups the resources, knowledge, support, and funding necessary to scale their ideas and grow them to penetrate international markets. 

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Get ready to delve into the concept of remote sensing technology, exploring its applications in the field of agriculture and its potential to enhance traditional farming practices. You will learn the process of extracting valuable information from images obtained through remote sensing as well as the opportunities it presents for startups in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, this episode highlights the pivotal role of technology in revolutionizing and modernizing the agricultural industry.

About The Trainer

Dr. Jaafar is an international expert in remote sensing technologies in agriculture. He is currently the Chair of the Department of Agriculture at the American University of Beirut where he serves as an Associate Professor of Irrigation and Water Management. At AUB, he founded AgHive, the research hub for smart irrigation and remote sensing, and geospatial technologies. With the help of a Google-funded research grant and a grant from IHE delft, he and his team designed and developed AgSAT, the world’s only free mobile smart irrigation application that yields irrigation runtimes and amounts using remote sensing and weather data anywhere on land. 

Dr. Jaafar has led and is currently leading several international research projects in collaboration with many organizations such as NASA, USDA, IHE-Delft, Google, and PRIMA. He is currently a member of the Surface Biology & Geology Applications Working Group led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory – NASA at the California Institute of Technology, and a committee member of the Water and Development Partnership Program at IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. He is also an international consultant for the World Bank, FAO, ESCWA, UNDP, and other organizations. 

About the Learning Series

The Berytech learning series offers a collection of 15-minute learning videos featuring passionate experts from the Berytech Community. In these condensed videos, we dive into curated topics, including Agriculture, Food, Renewable Energy, and Clean Technology; providing rich and concise content on the latest trends, advancements, challenges, and opportunities in these sectors locally, regionally, and internationally.

This episode of the learning series was produced under the Agrytech Accelerator Program. The Agrytech Accelerator Program was conceived to make sure Lebanon has the most competitive companies that are sourcing, solving, growing and transforming food, as well as feeding the world from Lebanon. The Agrytech Accelerator Program was launched by Berytech and co-funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lebanon to enable the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem and stimulate innovation and startup creation in the agriculture and food technology sectors. 

Berytech supports innovations across these sectors by offering startups the resources, knowledge, support, and funding necessary to scale their ideas and grow them to penetrate international markets. 

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HORECA is taking place at the Seaside Arena in Beirut on April 25 to 27 from 3 to 9. The exhibition expects 12000+ visitors to its 3000 square meters exhibition that will gather 150+ exhibitors.  

The QOOT Cluster will have an exceptional presence in the exhibition being the only cluster in Lebanon that gathers innovators in the agri-food sector. The QOOT cluster booth will host ten main exhibiting members and will showcase the products of more than 90 Lebanese producers and manufacturers of its members. 

Main hosted members include Agridev, Agrofitt, Bites of Delight, Bustan el Zeitoun, Cave Des Ours, Darmmess, Go Baladi, Soler’s, The Good Thymes, and Wata Cider.   

QOOT members share the cluster’s vision for collaborative innovation to promote Lebanese agrifood businesses and strengthen every aspect of Lebanon’s agrifood sector and help it attain both regional and international acclaim. 

To join the exhibition, make sure to register your badges for easier access.  

About QOOT Cluster 

QOOT is Lebanon’s leading agrifood cluster, catalyzing sustainable growth, enhancing capabilities and competitiveness, and opening world markets to Lebanese agrifood businesses. Championed by Berytech and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and supported by FoodValley NL, QOOT is built on a solid foundation of entrepreneurship and extensive experience in food innovation and cluster management. 

The post QOOT Cluster Showcases Agrifood Innovation in HORECA Lebanon 2023 appeared first on Berytech.

The SME Fund, for which IM Ventures provided an initial $6M in capital and raised an additional $6M from private investors, will support entrepreneurs and business owners who are building market-leading businesses.  

USAID/Lebanon Mission Director, Mary Eileen Devitt, Berytech Foundation President, LII Chief of Party Mr. Maroun N. Chammas, portfolio companies, other businesses, investors, and key stakeholders in the investment landscape attended the launch event at the Innovation and Sports Campus of USJ.

Maroun N. Chammas, President of Berytech Foundation and LII Chief of Party, commented: “Despite the economic crisis in Lebanon and devaluation of the local currency, Berytech continues to pursue opportunities in different sectors by partnering with high-potential founders to address specific market gaps. With USAID’s ongoing support, we aim to bring transformational changes to the Lebanese economy. We have always believed that SMEs are important contributors to job creation and economic development. We are very aligned with USAID in our vision to address the core challenges and increase resilience”, he added.

Mary Eileen Devitt, USAID Mission Director, commented on the fund launch: “The SME Fund, similar to its predecessor the Save our Startups (SOS) fund, embodies a true American-Lebanese partnership to create opportunities for Lebanon’s private sector to contribute to Lebanon’s economic and social stability and prosperity.”

 “SMEF will provide local companies with the capital, expertise, and operational support they need to grow and prosper in the market, increase their export potential, and expand internationally. We are partners in their growth! This milestone comes to actively contribute to the investment and innovation ecosystem in the country. We value the trust and support of our investors and partners, and IM Ventures is still committed to continuously creating impact and supporting the Lebanese economic growth”, said Dr. Nicolas Rouhana, Chairman & CEO of IM Ventures.

About IM Ventures

IM Ventures works in partnership with business incubators, business accelerators, business angels, venture capital and private equity funds to co-fund or partially insure their investments, and provide needed technical support, to a broad spectrum of businesses ranging from seed stage to growth phase. IM Ventures’ strategy focuses on providing and leveraging investment capital, scaling up successful investment strategies, building networks of investors, and offering technical support, strategic guidance, and mentoring.  www.im-fndng.com

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Femme Francophone Entrepreneure Winners

The results were announced on Friday during a final event which took place at the Centre d’Employabilité Francophone of AUF in Beirut: Rafa Hojeij, Nora Berbery, and Israa Hoss won the final competition.

This contest, which is organized by AUF Middle East and Berytech, in partnership with L’Orient-Le Jour, has been promoting, for more than a decade, women’s entrepreneurship in Lebanon. Partners still believe in the potential of startups despite the difficulties which are inherent to the Lebanese ecosystem; this year, they decided to support SMEs whose great merit is to have braved the strains of a crisis that is growing increasingly smothering.

Competition Participants

The call for participation was issued in April 2022. One hundred projects were received; 33 participants were selected and followed several training sessions. The submitted projects were assessed in light of criteria such as innovation, market study, viability, and complementarity between the team members’ competencies to select the projects that will make it to the final.

Six participants competed during the final:

• Rafa Hojeij – Potion Kitchen – a clean beauty brand made in Lebanon by using a variety of Mediterranean renewable ingredients extracted from freshly cut plants without adding toxic chemical products;
• Rania Kassir – Happy Brain – a publishing house for speech therapy materials and tools targeting the Arabic-speaking population and executed with the help of scientific experts from the sector and the field;
• Israa Hoss – Vini Fera – a selection of upcycled local grapes, which are worthwhile for the skin care market and which extend the life cycle of Mediterranean grapes;
• Nora Berbery – TwiLy – a French-Lebanese business that decided to revolutionize the world of training by innovating through gamification. With its educational tools or game boards, TWiLY makes training more accessible and pleasant for students and professionals alike;
• Rouba Haddad – The Bone Guy – a Lebanese startup specializing in the production of 100% natural and nutritional dog and cat treats;
• Sarah Joseph – Olive Bio – a business that offers traditional and natural agricultural products.

Each participant had 5 minutes to pitch in front of the jury and try to convince them of the relevance and viability of their projects.

Women Entrepreneurial Spirit

Following this presentation, the three winners were chosen by the jury which included this year Michelle Mouracade (Impact Fund adviser at Al Fanar NGO), Randa Safah (non-banking subsidiaries and private investment officer at Banque Audi), and Philippe Hage Boutros (economic journalist at L’Orient-le Jour).

Rafa Hojeij, Nora Berbery, and Israa Hoss will share 20,000 Euros and will be allocated an area within Berytech’s co-working space in addition to access to training and coaching for six months. Jean-Noël Baléo, the regional director of AUF Middle East, declared in his opening speech: “Francophone women entrepreneurs are showing us brilliantly today the combination of solutions and talents that the country is badly in need of, namely creativity, expertise, energy, determination, and faith in a future that is shaped here in Lebanon”.

Chairman and CEO of Berytech, Maroun Chammas, said: “The participants in the Femme Francophone Entrepreneure competition are pumping a necessary dose of hope into our dire reality. The success of their projects bears testimony to their entrepreneurial spirit which emphasizes the role of women in our region and preserves, at the same time, the Francophonie, which is a key element of our culture. It is quite incredible to see such enthusiasm during this period”. 

Fouad Khoury Helou, the executive director of L’Orient-Le Jour, said “Lebanese women play a crucial role in rebuilding our country. Entrepreneurship, which is the foundation of our economy, will be a necessary pillar in that regard”.

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