Call for Participation for “Lebanon Innovate” Soft-Landing Programme – EBN

Introducing Lebanese Actors to the EU|BIC Community

Under Lebanon Innovate, a European Union funded project to revitalize the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem and its productive sectors, EBN is seeking Lebanese universities, business support organisations, and research institutes to engage with the European innovation ecosystem. This initiative aims to foster collaboration, enhance innovation capabilities, and create
lasting partnerships between Lebanese and European entities.

The soft-landing programme is a key component of the Lebanon Innovate Capacity Building initiative, aiming to enhance the skills and expertise of innovation intermediaries in Lebanon, bringing them to an expert level through a variety of support measures. Selected universities, business support organisations, and research institutes from Lebanon will be invited to participate for 2024 and 2025.

The soft-landing programme is a crucial approach for facilitating practical knowledge transfer between EU|BIC members and Lebanese innovation actors. It will provide a platform for Lebanese institutions to gain and share practical experience in establishing and maintaining sustainable, long-term relationships with European business incubators. Additionally, the initiative aims to scout international connections for both the Lebanese participants and their client organizations. This programme offers a valuable opportunity not only for Lebanese partners but also for European incubators, whose team members will gain deep insights into the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Lebanon through peer-to-peer exchanges.

The Soft-Landing Programme 2024

The soft-landing is designed to provide selected organisations and their representatives with a practical, capacity-enhancing programme through a direct connection with an EU|BIC member. The programme will have four parts:

Pre-visit online preparatory sessions
Short-term peer-to-peer exchange programme at EU|BICs in Ireland
Participation in EBN Techcamp
Post-visit online follow-up session.

Selected organisations from Lebanon (one representative per each organisation) will participate in the European soft-landing. The selection will be made by Lebanon Innovate Programme partners based on set criteria. The selected organisations will have several online sessions organised by EBN, Berytech, and EU|BIC counterparts, followed by a maximum of 5 days of activities in Europe and post-visit follow-up online sessions.

Objectives

To connect Lebanese universities, business support organisations, and research institutes with European counterparts for knowledge sharing, partnerships, and the exploration of potential exchange programmes.
To enhance the capacity of selected Lebanese organisations to successfully establish and manage sustainable innovation and incubation hubs.
To strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of Lebanese innovation intermediaries in designing and executing incubation programmes that support entrepreneurs in building scalable businesses.
To assist Lebanese institutions in identifying and developing business models that align with local realities, driving growth and sustainability.
To provide access to diverse markets, investors, and partners through the extensive EBN network.

Implementation

Exchange Missions (Soft-Landing):
1. Lebanese participants will visit European innovation centres to share experiences, explore new ideas, and establish connections.
1. These missions will include participation in major innovation events such as the EBN annual congress and Techcamp to maximize exposure and learning.
Peer-to-Peer Collaboration:
1. One-to-one partnerships will be formed between Lebanese and European innovation actors.
1. Activities will include peer reviews, benchmarking exercises, and collaborative projects to enhance innovation practices and services.

Timeline

The activities are planned to take place from November 17 to November 23, 2024, providing ample time for preparation, execution, and follow-up to ensure sustainable impact.

Soft-Landing key activities

Several online sessions, each a maximum of 2 hours, during which the Lebanese representatives can share the challenges they face with the EU|BIC and co-design the soft-landing programme based on the experience and needs of the Lebanese organisations.
Up to 2 days of soft-landing activity at one EU|BIC counterpart in Europe (Ireland). The activity is jointly designed based on the outcome of the online sessions.
Three-day activities: sessions, networking, and work sessions at EBN Techcamp 2024.
One post-visit online exchange for a maximum of 2 hours: this session aims at reconnecting the Lebanese organisation and EU|BIC to review the soft-landing programme and build on the knowledge and experience gained during the visit.

Approach

Selection of Organisations from the Lebanese Ecosystem

Applicants will need to provide the necessary documentation to be considered for selection. The final selection will be made by partners after evaluating the candidates’ profiles.

Logistics Coordination

EBN will work with the Lebanese organisations to facilitate communication and logistics coordination for the preparation and running of the soft-landing programme, including the trips to Europe. EBN will share all the necessary online tools for the programme and provide the necessary documents for visa application processes, flight ticketing, accommodation, and travel allowance. This activity is covered by the European Union Under the Lebanon Innovate Programme.

Content Development

The selected experts from the EU|BIC will develop the soft-landing programme based on input from the selected Lebanese organisations and Lebanon Innovate project partners. The draft content will be reviewed by the EBN team and shared with implementing partners prior to implementation. This will allow the experts to receive additional input and/or feedback on their content before the kick-off of the soft-landing programme.

Call to Action

We invite Lebanese universities, business support organisations, and research institutes to participate in this transformative opportunity to engage with leading European innovation centres, enhance their innovation capabilities, and build lasting international partnerships. Participants should be nominated by their institution.

Eligibility Criteria for Companies/Institutions:

Introduction and Rationale: Brief introduction of the organisation, field of expertise, professional background, size, and history of innovation.
Strategic Vision for a Culture of Innovation: Organisation’s strategic vision in fostering a culture of innovation among faculties and researchers.
Objectives for Applied Research and IP Commercialization: Institution’s key objectives in supporting the development of applied research and IP commercialization. Detail any ongoing entrepreneurship and innovation programmes implemented in Health, MedTech, Industry, AI, and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence.
Institutional Capacity and Resource Availability: Summary of the institution’s ability and availability of resources (human capital, facilities, etc.) to benefit from Lebanon Innovate.
Motivation, Willingness, and Commitment: Description of interests and suitability to participate in this initiative.

Participant Criteria

Participants nominated by their companies/institutions/organisations should possess the following qualifications and background:

Hold key roles within their organisation’s such as Technology Transfer Office Manager, Directors of Innovation, Project Managers, R&D Managers, Innovation Officers, Business Support Managers. These roles should involve direct responsibility for developing, managing, or supporting research and development (R&D), innovation management, business support, development, or strategic development.
Have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the sector they represent (ICT, Health, Agrifood) or in a discipline related to innovation management, business administration, or technology management.
Have at least 5-10 years of professional experience in their sector, with a demonstrated track record of involvement in innovation projects, R&D activities, or the implementation of new technologies or business strategies within their institution.
Demonstrate strong motivation to participate in capacity-building training and a commitment to applying the knowledge and skills gained to foster innovation within their organisation.
Proficiency in English to ensure full participation and comprehension.

Soft-Landing Programme Cost

All costs involved for the planning and implementation of the soft-landing programme will be covered by the Lebanon Innovate Programme through EBN, covering the costs of Travel, Accommodation, and local transportation.

Communication and Implementation

The soft-landing programme will be led and coordinated by Joanna Abi Abdallah at joanna.abiabdallah@ebn.eu.

Programme Details

Duration: Ability to attend EBN annual Techcamp in Dublin, Ireland from November 17 to November 23, 2024. Ability to travel within Ireland.
Location: On-site in Dublin and within EU|BICs
Application Deadline: August 11th, 2024.

How to apply

Submit an updated CV
Submit a motivation letter including
- The sector(s) your institution is involved in.
- A description of the ongoing entrepreneurship and innovation programmes.
- Your organisation’s key objectives in supporting applied research and IP commercialization.
- How participation in this programmes will benefit your organisation and contribute to its goals.
- What you are planning on putting in place in order to share the knowledge acquired

For more information and to express your interest, please contact EBN at joanna.abiabdallah@ebn.eu.

About the Lebanon Innovate Programme