Blog Archives | Berytech

From Idea to Market: When and How to Protect Your Innovation

Noor Maroun — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:03:37 +0000

Insights from Fouad El Saddi, Intellectual Property Specialist

For many startups, intellectual property (IP) protection feels like a faraway step, something to worry about after growth or investment. But as Fouad El Saddi explains, protecting your innovation starts much earlier than most founders think.

“IP protection begins the moment research and development begin,” El Saddi says. “At that stage, what matters most is keeping your ideas confidential until they’re ready for protection.” He breaks down IP protection into stages that evolve with your business.

1. Early Stage: Confidentiality First

Before anything else, protect your ideas from leaking. “Founders should start with NDAs and confidentiality agreements, with each other, employees, freelancers, and suppliers,” El Saddi advises. Avoid public disclosures in events, competitions, or on social media. Once something is made public, you lose the right to protect it, it becomes part of the public domain.

2. Pre-Launch: Patents and Trade Secrets

If your solution involves a technical innovation, a new formula, or an inventive process, you may be eligible for a patent. “File a patent before seeking investment or launching commercially,” El Saddi stresses. “It gives your startup more value and credibility.” For sectors like agrifood, where the innovation may lie in a recipe or production method, secrecy is often the smarter route. Keep such knowledge as a trade secret, safeguarded through strong NDAs and internal confidentiality processes.

3. Company Registration: Securing Your Brand Identity

Once your entity is legally established, protect your name.

“A trademark covers your brand identity, the name, logo, or product line,” El Saddi explains. “You should check its availability before printing packaging or going to market.”
Trademark registration typically happens at or just before commercial launch, ensuring your brand cannot be used or copied by others.

4. Growth Stage: Design and Presentation

As your product evolves, industrial design protection may apply. This covers the look and feel of a product, the shape of a bottle, the form of a package, or an ornamental design that distinguishes it. “Industrial design protection applies to how your product looks, not how it works,” El Saddi notes.

5. Scaling and Expansion: Creative and Digital Assets

Finally, your content, manuals, visuals, and software are protected under copyright. “Everything you create as a human, text, graphics, software, user manuals, is automatically protected by copyright,” El Saddi says. While copyright registration isn’t mandatory, it strengthens your legal position in disputes, especially as your brand starts producing more digital and creative assets.

The Takeaway

IP isn’t one step, it’s a layered process that grows with your startup. Start with confidentiality, move toward patents or trade secrets, then secure your trademark, designs, and creative outputs as your company matures.

As El Saddi puts it, “Every stage has its own protection tools, but the sooner you think about IP, the stronger your business foundation becomes.”

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Innovating the Water–Energy–Agriculture Nexus in Lebanon

Maria Chahine — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:37:57 +0000

STARTUPS AT THE CORE OF SYSTEMIC IMPACT

UNDERSTANDING THE WATER–ENERGY–AGRICULTURE (WEA) NEXUS

Lebanon’s agricultural future depends on how effectively it manages three vital resources:water, energy, and land. The water–energy–agriculture (WEA) nexus provides an integrated lens to understand how these systems interact, and how innovations optimized practices in one can strengthen the others. Water and energy are the lifelines of food production. Every irrigation system, storage unit,and processing facility depends on them. Yet the relationship flows both ways: agricultural practices also shape how much energy and water are consumed or conserved. When one system becomes inefficient, the others inevitably suffer.
The nexus approach encourages collaboration across disciplines and sectors. It moves beyond fragmented fixes toward solutions that reflect how interconnected these challenges truly are. Through innovation, circularity, and technology, agricultural systems can conserve resources while increasing productivity.
Startups are becoming key actors in this transformation. Their agility allows them to design context-based solutions that respond directly to Lebanon’s sustainability needs, from renewable energy and smart water use to waste valorization and adaptive farming.
Together, these innovators form a growing ecosystem proving that sustainability can be both achievable and economically viable.

WHY THE NEXUS MATTERS FOR LEBANON

Lebanon’s economy and food system are highly vulnerable to external pressures. For decades, the country has relied heavily on imported fuel, fertilizers, and food, leaving it exposed to fluctuating global prices and regional instability. This dependence has weakened local production capacity and turned sustainability into a national concern.
At the same time, Lebanon faces mounting environmental stress. Water scarcity

and land degradation continue to worsen, driven by both climate change and outdated farming practices. Over-irrigation, soil exhaustion, and inefficient energy use have placed increasing strain on natural resources, threatening the livelihoods of small and medium farmers. Yet these same challenges are now giving rise to opportunity. The combined economic and energy crises have pushed the country toward decentralized, homegrown solutions. Across Lebanon, startups are experimenting with solar solutions, alternative fertilizers, and soilless
agriculture, building a new model of resilience that directly addresses local realities.

These emerging solutions share three defining qualities:

Together, they are laying the groundwork for a new era of food security and sustainability, one where growth is measured not only by scale but by resilience.

STARTUPS DRIVING IMPACT ACROSS THE NEXUS

Renewable Energy
Powering agriculture through clean, efficient, and decentralized systems.
Energy is the backbone of agricultural production; it fuels irrigation, processing, and storage. Renewable energy solutions reduce dependence on costly, polluting fuels and allowfarmers to access reliable, locally managed power. By integrating clean energy into the agricultural value chain, these startups help stabilize production costs and make farming
more sustainable.

Caesar’s Flame

Caesar’s Flame converts organic and agricultural waste into biomass briquettes and pellets, clean, long-burning fuel that replaces diesel and heavy oil.

By turning farm residues into energy, Caesar’s Flame closes the loop between production and power. It provides farmers and agri-processors with a renewable, locally sourced alternative that reduces fuel costs, lowers carbon emissions, and prevents waste from becoming an environmental burden.

Green Grid Trade

Green Grid Trade enables households, farms, and cooperatives to produce, consume, and trade solar power through a shared digital platform.

The model decentralizes energy generation, giving farmers access to collective solar infrastructure that stabilizes power supply and reduces dependency on national grids. This enhances the sustainability of energy-intensive operations such as irrigation, refrigeration, and food processing.

Nuwatt

Nuwatt designs smart solar systems and software that monitor energy generation and consumption in real time, integrating directly with irrigation and pumping networks.

Impact on the agricultural sector: By linking energy management to water systems, Nuwatt allows farmers to optimize both simultaneously, reducing waste, securing stable water access, and lowering operational costs.

Soilless Agriculture

Transforming how food is grown through water-efficient, space-saving, and circular systems.
As accessible land and water resources shrink, soilless farming is offering new possibilities for production. Through hydroponics, aeroponics, and biotechnology, these startups reduce resource use while expanding agriculture into urban and degraded areas.

Cultiva

Cultiva uses biotechnology to convert banana tree waste into organic fertilizers and soil substitutes that restore soil microbiology and fertility.
Cultiva simultaneously addresses soil exhaustion and waste accumulation. By turning crop residues into nutrient-rich organic matter, it gives farmers a local, affordable alternative to imported fertilizers, reinforcing soil health and closing material cycles.

Urban Leaf

Urban Leaf designs hydroponic systems that grow crops in nutrient-rich water instead of soil, cutting water consumption by more than 80%.
Its systems make farming possible in homes, schools, and small urban spaces, diversifying production sources, increasing water efficiency, and promoting awareness of sustainable food practices.

AgroConnect

AgroConnect integrates aeroponics, greenhouse engineering, and digital monitoring into modular systems suited for both home and commercial use.
The startup demonstrates how precision control and modular design can raise productivity while conserving water and land. It enables high-value cultivation even in non-arable zones, expanding the geography of Lebanese agriculture.

Agri-Input Producers

Providing farmers with the resources to cultivate resilient, high-yield crops.
Healthy inputs, seeds, soil, and nutrients form the base of every sustainable system. By developing bio-based fertilizers and preserving local seed varieties, these startups strengthen the foundations of production and help farmers adapt to climate and market pressures.

Grade A Plus
Grade A Plus produces natural fertilizer pellets from sheep wool, rich in nutrients and water-retentive properties. The product improves soil structure, enhances moisture retention, and supports stronger
root systems, reducing the need for irrigation and chemical fertilizers. This helps farmers maintain yields under dry conditions and contributes to long-term soil resilience.

Gharset Kheir
Gharset Kheir collects, enhances, and distributes native Lebanese seed varieties through a national seed bank. By reviving seeds adapted to local climates and pests, Gharset Kheir strengthens food
sovereignty and biodiversity. Farmers benefit from crops that require less water, resist disease naturally, and preserve Lebanon’s agricultural heritage.

INTERCONNECTED INNOVATION: THE TRIANGLE OF SYNERGY

The impact of these eight startups is deeply interconnected in potential. Individually, they tackle specific challenges within the Water–Energy–Agriculture nexus, yet their solutions naturally complement one another. If leveraged collectively, their combined impact could multiply across the agricultural system, turning stand-alone innovations into collective impact.

Some of the strongest examples of this complementarity come from within the same subsectors. Cultiva, for instance, turns banana waste into organic soil alternatives that restore fertility. But not all plants thrive in these soils, and that is where AgroConnect’s aeroponic systems can step in. Together, they make it possible to grow a wider range of crops with minimal water and land.

A similar link exists between Gharset Kheir and Grade A Plus. Gharset Kheir develops local, climate-adapted seeds that strengthen Lebanon’s biodiversity but can struggle with lower yields. Grade A Plus, producing fertilizers from sheep wool, has worked with them to enhance soil quality and boost growth. The collaboration connects resilient genetics with natural soil enrichment, pairing biodiversity with productivity.

Each startup solves part of the challenge, energy, water, soil, or seed, but together, they show how local innovation can address agriculture as a whole. Renewable energy powers production; sustainable agriculture conserves resources; and eco-friendly inputs close the loop.

This triangle of synergy creates a continuous cycle where energy fuels agriculture, agriculture feeds input production, and sustainable inputs make energy and water use more efficient. It’s a model that shows how Lebanon can move from scattered efforts to a truly circular, collaborative agricultural economy.

SCALING THE SUPPORT SYSTEM

The insights drawn from these startups point to a clear direction for Lebanon’s innovation landscape: it’s not only about creating new solutions, but about connecting the ones that already exist. Innovation and interconnection must advance hand in hand.
Encouraging the creation of new ideas remains vital, Lebanon still needs technologies that respond to its specific resource, climate, and market realities. But equal value lies in fostering innovations that bridge sectors and subsectors, where energy meets agriculture,
waste meets production, and technology meets sustainability. These are the points where small breakthroughs can turn into systemic change.
To nurture that kind of growth:

Accelerators and incubators can pair startups from different sectors within joint

programs, prompting collaboration between complementary technologies.

– Investors and donors can prioritize cross-sector solutions, ones that generate value simultaneously for multiple industries or communities.

– Research and academic institutions can drive applied innovation that connects disciplines and translates scientific knowledge into integrated solutions.

– Public partners can strengthen enabling frameworks, from circular economy incentives to green procurement, that make collaboration economically viable.

Over the years, Lebanon has often turned to creativity and resourcefulness to navigate difficult times, turning scarcity into ingenuity and crisis into opportunity. By pairing that same mindset with nexus thinking and interconnectivity, the country can move from individual breakthroughs to collective progress, unlocking an even broader and more lasting impact.

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The Clyntech Accelerator Launches Its Fourth Batch

Noor Maroun — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:00:44 +0000

The Clyntech Accelerator has officially opened its fourth batch, welcoming 13 new startups developing innovative solutions across the clean technology sectors of energy, waste, transportation, and water.

The selection followed a competitive pitching round, during which more than 26 startups presented their ideas before a jury of internal and external experts. The chosen teams have now embarked on a multi-month journey designed to strengthen their technical and entrepreneurial capacity, from validating their solutions to refining their market approach.

Building Collaboration and Design Thinking from Day One

The program kicked off in October 2025 with a three-day Design Thinking Bootcamp, marking the first activity for the newly selected founders. The immersive experience was designed to help teams connect, build trust, and establish a foundation of collaboration, both among themselves and with the Berytech team supporting their growth.

Throughout the sessions, participants explored the core stages of design thinking: understanding users and stakeholders, identifying the core beliefs shaping their ideas, transforming these into hypotheses, and testing them through rapid prototyping. By the end of the three days, each team had developed a validated concept and a clear roadmap to guide their next steps, from refining their solutions to preparing for the following stages of their startup journey.

This early emphasis on team cohesion and structured experimentation set the tone for the months ahead, fostering a shared spirit of openness, creativity, and purposeful collaboration across the cohort.

A Multi-Phase Learning Experience

Since the bootcamp, the startups have moved into a structured learning journey covering a wide range of topics, from product planning, and business modeling, to legal frameworks and go-to-market strategy.

Rather than one-off sessions, most topics are explored through a series of interconnected workshops and one-on-one sessions, allowing experts to follow up with the teams, ensure progress, and help them apply each concept directly to their projects.

In the coming weeks, the program will expand to include sessions such as sustainability and environmental impact assessment, cost structure and breakeven analysis, and financial planning, topics that will help participants translate their technical innovations into viable, scalable business models.

Bridging Technical Expertise and Entrepreneurial Skills

This kind of ongoing, applied learning is particularly valuable in the clean technology sector, where many founders come from scientific and engineering backgrounds. While their technical expertise is a strong foundation, the path from invention to market success also requires skills in communication, leadership, and business strategy.

Clyntech’s approach helps bridge this gap. The workshops are designed not just to teach business fundamentals but to develop the soft skills that turn technical specialists into entrepreneurs, enabling founders to communicate their impact, attract investment, and collaborate effectively with partners and stakeholders.

Accelerating the Path from Prototype to Market

All these workshops are delivered as part of the accelerator phase, which will run over the next 6 months. During this period, startups will also receive one-on-one support to develop their prototypes, reach their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and strengthen their business models as they prepare to enter the market.

At the end of this 6-month phase, eight startups will be selected to join an additional 4-month incubation program, where they will continue refining their technologies, deepening their market validation, and scaling toward commercialization.

By combining intensive capacity building with personalized mentorship, the Clyntech Accelerator continues to empower Lebanon’s clean technology entrepreneurs to turn scientific innovation into practical, market-ready solutions that drive environmental and economic impact

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Berytech Partners with NetCommerce to Empower Digital Trade

Noor Maroun — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:27:38 +0000

Berytech is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with NetCommerce, Lebanon’s leading online transaction platform, to empower startups and SMEs in our network to scale their businesses through digital trade.

Through this collaboration, Berytech startups and SMEs will gain access to NetCommerce’s secure, fast, and easy online payment infrastructure, including payment links, online checkout options, and multi-currency and real-time credit card transaction validation. This partnership will help participating companies reduce their reliance on cash, facilitate exports, and open new avenues for cross-border transactions.

The benefits for our community include:
– Preferential rates and fees exclusively offered to Berytech-affiliated companies, to incentivize adoption and reduce cost barriers
– A digital channel that enables safe and secure online payments, enhancing trust and accessibility for both local and international clients
– Seamless integration with trusted financial institutions, ensuring reliability and compliance with international standards

During the launch event, NetCommerce’s CEO, Elias Azzam, together with his team, presented the platform and demonstrated its main features to participating startups and SMEs, highlighting how such tools can transform their sales and export operations.

This partnership reflects Berytech’s continued commitment to equipping our community with digital infrastructure that drives growth, competitiveness, and financial inclusion.

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Cracking the Code: How to Make the Algorithm Work for You

Noor Maroun — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:08:31 +0000

Insights from John Tebaa, Digital Marketing Specialist

In marketing, the principles rarely change, only the platforms do. For John Tebaa, effective digital marketing isn’t about luck or big budgets. It’s about clarity, persistence, and knowing how to make the system work for you.

“Marketing never really differs between one product and another,” Tebaa explains. “When people have a need, and your product offers real value, your job is to let them know it solves that need.”

1. From Value to Visibility

The key, he says, is to shift focus from selling a product to selling a solution. “If you’re not solving a problem, you’re not selling,” he emphasizes. Once people recognize their problem in your message, they’ll naturally want to hear how you can solve it.

2. Master the Algorithm, Don’t Fight It

Tebaa views social media platforms not as obstacles but as amplifiers, if you understand their logic. “The algorithm isn’t against you,” he says. “If your message is clear and relevant, it will deliver it to the people who need it.”

He points out that the best-performing formats today, short videos like Reels and Stories, reward content that’s shared, especially when engagement happens beyond the platform. The algorithm notices that and boosts it automatically.

3. Test, Learn, and Scale

Unlike traditional advertising, digital marketing gives you freedom to experiment without heavy investment. “We can always test and validate,” Tebaa notes. “Once you have one good piece of content that performs well, you can scale it up.”

This cycle of testing and refining allows marketers to learn fast and adjust based on real feedback, not assumptions.

4. Build Networks That Amplify

Growth isn’t only about algorithms; it’s also about people. Tebaa highlights the importance of community and collaboration: “If you know how to build good networks, you can use those networks to push your content further. Every share expands your reach.”

5. Consistency Wins

Finally, he insists that results come through steady effort. Digital visibility is a process, not a moment. “As long as you keep creating, adapting, and staying consistent,” he says, “the growth will happen.”

In the end, Tebaa’s approach demystifies digital marketing. It’s not about hacking the algorithm, it’s about understanding it, working with it, and letting persistence turn clarity into momentum.

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Bridging the Gap: From Research to Market in Agri-Food Innovation

Berytech Team — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:50:29 +0000

Turning ideas into tangible products is never simple, but Lebanon’s agri-food sector is showing that it’s possible with the right mix of collaboration, expertise, and support.

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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Around the Mediterranean with Cluster Connect: Berytech Enabling Regional Collaboration

Yvona Nehme — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:23 +0000

Across the Mediterranean, clusters are striving to modernize, scale, and join the international stage. Yet, without access to new markets, updated knowledge, and peer-to-peer exchange, many risk being left behind.

To change this, the Cluster Connect initiative—funded by the European Union under the EuroMed Clusters Forward program and coordinated by ANIMA Investment Network—has been set in motion. Berytech, as the regional implementing partner, is enabling clusters in the MENA region to connect with their European counterparts, designing and facilitating twinning missions that open new opportunities for growth and collaboration.

These missions are more than visits. They are structured journeys: from needs assessments and virtual exchanges to immersive study trips where clusters work directly with their hosts. Each step is designed to ensure practical outcomes, long-term collaboration, and stronger cluster ecosystems back home.

ECF – Infographic Download

Stories of Collaboration and Success

Tunisia – Cluster Huile d’Olive du Nord Ouest

Host: Italy – EuroMed Group
Focus: Gourmet olive oil production and export market entry

In the olive groves of north-western Tunisia, tradition met opportunity. Through Cluster Connect, the cluster explored Italian expertise in gourmet production, visiting olive mills and engaging with local authorities in Bari on potential trade partnerships. They returned with three collaborations in motion and a clear export strategy—bridging Tunisian production with European demand.

Palestine – Hebron Leather and Shoe Cluster (HLSC)

Host: Spain – Leather Cluster Barcelona
Focus: Sustainability and access to finance

Leatherworking is Hebron’s legacy, but the future lies in greener practices and stronger financing models. In Barcelona, the HLSC participated in workshops on sustainable production and engaged directly with Spanish peers. The mission produced a signed Memorandum of Understanding and three new international connections, formalizing a path to more sustainable and competitive leather goods.

Morocco – Cluster Electrique, Electronique, et Mecatronique du Maroc (CE3M)

Host: France – Team Henri Fabre
Focus: Industry 4.0 and digital transformation

Morocco’s CE3M cluster used its mission to dive into the future of manufacturing. From hands-on training in IoT and 3D printing to preparing a national Industry 4.0 forum, the experience gave the cluster both the tools and the confidence to lead digital transformation locally. By the end, three new services were launched, supported by eight fresh partnerships with European counterparts.

Morocco – Moroccan Denim and Fashion Cluster (MDFC)

Host: Spain – MODACC
Focus: Eco-design and circular fashion

The MDFC cluster explored Catalonia’s textile ecosystem, immersing itself in models of eco-design and sustainable innovation. These encounters sparked three new project proposals and strategies for improved governance and incubation, paving the way for Moroccan fashion to play a larger role in the global shift toward circular textiles.

Egypt – Egyptian Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC)

Host: Spain – AMEC
Focus: Governance, logistics, and innovation

EREC’s mission was about building stronger systems inside the cluster and introducing sustainable solutions for its members. Visits to DFactory, EURECAT, and Barcelona Port offered insights into green innovation and smart logistics. The mission led to the creation of three new services and the drafting of a partnership with PIMEC, strengthening Egypt’s role in sustainable industrial practices.

Morocco – Cluster Menara

Host: Netherlands – Eco System Navigators
Focus: Certification and market access

In the Netherlands, Menara learned how Dutch SMEs leverage certification and flexible models to penetrate new markets. Through strategic meetings with funders and companies, the cluster returned with three new services, five improved offerings, and ten active collaborations. The mission also helped define three strategic plans to guide its growth in agrifood and cosmetics sectors.

Tunisia – Cluster Mecatronic Tunisie (CMT)

Host: Germany – WFG Wirtschaftsförderung Raum Heilbronn GmbH
Focus: Quality management and CRM development

CMT’s mission focused on improving internal cluster processes to better serve its members. With German support, they enhanced their CRM system and engaged with leading European clusters and the University of Heilbronn. Four new connections and two collaborations emerged from this mission, along with a new strategy for performance analysis and member engagement.

Berytech as an Enabler

Behind every mission, Berytech has played a critical role: identifying cluster needs, designing tailored action plans, matching clusters with the right hosts, and ensuring that the outcomes go beyond meetings to become lasting strategies and partnerships.

By acting as an enabler, Berytech is ensuring that clusters not only connect but also grow, innovate, and compete internationally.

Building a Shared Future

The first wave of Cluster Connect missions has demonstrated the power of twinning: practical services upgraded, new collaborations forged, and strategies reshaped for sustainability and competitiveness.

This is proof that when clusters connect, entire economies move forward. We’re not done yet. Stay tuned for what’s next, and if you’re ready to do business, we’re only an email away: jessica.hajjar@berytech.org.

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Cluster Corner at PowerX Summit 2025 Drives Euro-Med Collaboration Through Innovation and Matchmaking

Yvona Nehme — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:45:11 +0000

Berytech proudly concluded the first edition of Cluster Corner, held on May 13 and 14, 2025, as a flagship activity within the PowerX Summit—Lebanon’s premier regional event for innovation and entrepreneurship. Over two days, the event successfully convened 16 clusters from 6 countries across the Euro-Mediterranean region, generating over 50 high-level matchmaking meetings and laying the groundwork for future joint ventures, cross-border initiatives, and strategic partnerships.

Cluster Corner was created as a dedicated space for clusters to engage in curated networking, explore cooperation opportunities, and align with broader regional innovation goals. Participants included cluster managers and representatives from key sectors such as agri-food, healthtech, ICT, green energy, and creative industries. Despite challenges posed by geopolitical constraints, Berytech ensured strong participation by securing regional representation and adapting logistics to maintain the impact and integrity of the event.

The activity was organized under the Euromed Clusters Forward program, funded by the European Union, and featured:

Structured matchmaking sessions powered by the B2Match platform, enabling participants to schedule and manage strategic meetings.
Panel discussions and expert presentations focused on cluster development, innovation policy, green transition, and economic alignment.
A high-impact networking dinner that brought together over 150 guests, including stakeholders from across the entrepreneurial and development ecosystem.
Access to the PowerX exhibition, offering clusters direct interaction with innovative startups, SMEs, and support programs active in Lebanon and beyond.

Post-event feedback strongly affirmed the value of the activity:

100% of respondents confirmed having made new professional connections,
88% identified peers for knowledge exchange,
71% reported securing international collaboration opportunities, and

Berytech’s seamless organization, hands-on support, and the relevance of content and contacts were widely praised. Participants especially valued the diversity of attendees, the strategic nature of discussions, and the opportunity to explore Lebanon’s growing innovation landscape firsthand.

“Cluster Corner created a powerful entry point for regional cooperation. It showed that despite external challenges, cross-border collaboration is not only possible—it’s necessary for sustainable development in the Mediterranean,” said the Berytech team.

The success of Cluster Corner sets a strong precedent for future editions. Plans are already underway to expand the initiative in 2026, with broader participation, deeper industrial engagement, and continued alignment with the goals of the Euromed Clusters Forward program, funded by the European Union.

For press inquiries or more information:
jessica.hajjar@berytech.org | rayan.chaaban@berytech.org
Euromed Clusters Forward | Berytech

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Synergies Across Sectors: Building Bridges Toward a More Circular Future

Rudy Daniel — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 12:12:25 +0000

As sustainability becomes both a global priority and a market expectation, businesses are rethinking how they operate, moving beyond compliance toward smarter systems that reduce waste, optimize energy, and create shared value. Circular solutions are key, but the most effective ones often come from outside a company or even its sector; they’re built through intentional, cross-sector collaboration.

That’s where clusters come in: networks that bring together businesses, institutions, and value chain actors around shared challenges. When these clusters connect, waste becomes input, innovation turns circular, and impact grows exponentially.

Building on the potential of collaborating across sectors, on July 8, 2025, Berytech hosted the first edition of CrossCluster 2025 under the theme “Building Synergies Across the Circular Economy.” The event united leaders from its three major clusters, The QOOT Cluster, The Sustainable Energy Cluster, and Waste Valorization Cluster, to explore how cross-sector collaboration can drive scalable and circular solutions.

“We believe that innovation rarely happens in isolation. It emerges at the intersections, where ideas, priorities, and sectors meet, sometimes collide, and ultimately evolve. That’s what today is about: breaking silos, sparking dialogue, and inspiring collaborations that may not have emerged otherwise.”

Lara El Khoury, Berytech’s Programs Director

Lessons From the Ecosystem

Industry leaders and Berytech cluster members offered practical insight into opportunities, what makes collaboration in the circular economy succeed, and what often holds it back. Drawing on their insight, the following themes emerged as guiding principles for stronger, more sustainable collaboration:

Leverage Energy and Waste for More Efficient Operations: Sustainable energy optimization is relevant to nearly every business across sectors. Whether by reducing consumption or switching to renewable sources, energy efficiency can cut costs and improve overall performance. At the same time, waste streams are often seen as a burden but can become valuable raw materials. By partnering with organizations that specialize in waste repurposing, businesses can lower disposal costs, open up new revenue streams, and align with international sustainability standards in the process.

Think Long-Term and Plan for Shared Value: Short-term thinking is one of the biggest barriers to effective collaboration. Building partnerships that last requires time, trust, and a shared vision. That’s why it’s essential to define roles, expectations, and the value each party brings from the very beginning. Designing a win-win-win model that benefits the partners, the project, and the broader ecosystem, creates the foundation for more resilient, scalable outcomes.

Tap into Smarter Financing Opportunities: Funding is often a common obstacle to innovation, but emerging financing models are starting to close that gap. Options like collateral-free loans and grant-backed investments are making it easier for businesses to pursue circular solutions. Just as importantly, the Lebanese diaspora presents a major untapped opportunity. Many diaspora members are willing and eager to invest in promising ventures back home. Establishing trusted linkages can build strong financial bridges with this global network and unlock promising investment opportunities.

The Role of Government and Policy: Public policy is a powerful lever for enabling collaboration and accelerating the shift toward circularity. Pushing for government-enforced policies like tax incentives on circular integration within the private sector can encourage investment in sustainable practices. Having these policies in place helps signal long-term commitment, giving businesses the confidence to innovate and establish circular partnerships.

Voices and Contributions

This section was shaped from the event’s two panel discussions that brought together leaders from international organizations, the private sector, and Lebanon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Panel One, “Synergies in Action: Success Stories and Collaboration in Practice,” featured Dr. Nada Sabra, Liaison and Resource Efficiency Expert at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Mr. Haykal Khalil, Associate Advisor for Small Businesses at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); and Mr. François Farage, General Manager of Green Essence Lebanon. The session was moderated by Ms. Jessica Hajjar, Program Manager at Berytech. Panel Two, “The Synergy Gap: Lessons from the Field,” included Mr. Ramy Boujawdeh, Managing Director of Fermendom; Mr. Nabil Shuman, General Manager of Agriplus Offshore SAL; Mr. Ziad Abichaker, CEO of Cedar Environmental; and Mr. Fadi Aziz, Founder of The Good Thymes. It was moderated by Mrs. Lara El Khoury, Innovation Hub Director at Berytech.

Real Case Studies: Stories of Cross-Sector Synergies

Within Berytech’s network, three cross-sector collaborations stood out, delivering circular solutions across agrifood, sustainable energy, and waste valorization

Agrifood & Sustainable Energy Collaboration: Facing energy costs exceeding 70,000 kWh per month, Agrifresh partnered with Green Essence to cut expenses by 95%, enabling reinvestment in a new aquaponics greenhouse and boosting leafy greens production.

Agrifood & Waste Management Collaboration: To reduce its carbon footprint and align with international standards, TAQA Snacks partnered with Cedar Environmental to turn plastic packaging waste into sustainable infrastructure materials, cutting impact while boosting supply for green engineering solutions.

Waste Valorization & Sustainable Energy Collaboration: As solar energy adoption grows in Lebanon, so does the challenge of managing solar panel waste. Lebanon Waste Management and Earth Technologies are exploring initial ideas for addressing this issue through more sustainable end-of-life solutions. These early discussions also highlight the broader need for engaging specialized actors to ensure proper handling and long-term strategies for solar waste management.

These collaborations highlight what’s possible when businesses from different sectors become solutions for one another.

Building Bridges Beyond The Event

One of the event’s most impactful segments was the matchmaking activity. Members from across the three clusters filled out live forms identifying the sustainability or production challenges their companies were facing. These inputs were used to connect them with relevant solution providers from within the clusters. At the end of the event, each participant received a tailored list of contacts they could potentially partner with to address their specific challenges. The matchmaking efforts will keep going beyond the event as the data collected will be valuable in continuously linking companies across clusters and enabling mutual support.

Scaled nationally, this model holds the potential to accelerate cross-sector partnerships and drive circular integration across the Lebanese economy.

While CrossCluster 2025 laid a solid foundation for collaborations, the momentum continues as these cluster networks grow and partnerships across sectors keep building.

Get Involved

If you’re a business in the agrifood sector seeking market access and circular partnerships, explore the QOOT Cluster.

If you operate in sustainable energy and want to join a solution-driven network, explore the Sustainable Energy Cluster.

If you work in waste valorization and want to be part of a national movement to turn waste into value, explore the Waste Valorization Cluster.

The post Synergies Across Sectors: Building Bridges Toward a More Circular Future appeared first on Berytech.

Lebanon’s Digital Leap: ICT Knowledge & Innovation Community Officially Launched

Berytech Team — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:40:36 +0000

Industry leaders, academia, policymakers, and innovators unite to accelerate digital transformation across key sectors.

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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