A Journey in 10 MedAfrican countries for eco-innovations
Deadline extension STARTUP10
The deadline of the STARTUP10 call for selecting 140 startups companies operating in the green and blue economy has been extended to 11 May 2024 at 23.59 (CET time).
ACTIVITIES
Launched in October 2023, the project aims to promote food security and youth employment in 10 partner countries of Italian cooperation (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Tunisia, Uganda) through the strengthening of business incubators to foster the development of local startups that present innovative solutions in the green and blue economy sectors with a focus on digitalization.
10 Focal Points coordinate, promote and manage on-site activities
22 incubators with experience in agrifood and proven impact on the territory are the project partners at local level.
140 startups with a business in the field of green and blue economy with a focus on digitalization, applying to a public call, will be selected and will participate in a coaching path.
The 22 best startups will win an award and participate in an Open Innovation path together with Italian companies to research and design possible collaborations.
NUMBER of INCUBATORS
THE MAIN ACTIVITIES
STRENGTHENING OF THE INCUBATORS
- Training course for managers of local incubators in order to strengthen their management skills and ensure the economic and financial sustainability of services to support young people and startups.
- Training course for Business Coaches from local incubators to develop their knowledge and skills in the field of open innovation and in particular on the coaching of teams working on challenges and innovative projects
ACTIVATION OF A COMMUNITY OF ITALIAN COMPANIES
- Creation of a community of companies interested in collaborating with startups from 10 countries to expand their business opportunities
- Training and awareness-raising events dedicated to companies on the markets of Africa, Middle East and Balkans
STRENGTHENING 140 LOCAL STARTUPS IN THE GREEN AND BLUE ECONOMY
- Selection of startups with green and blue economy projects and a focus on digitalization
- Coaching for startups
- Pitch competition and selection of 22 startups that will participate in a matching process with Italian companies
TRAINING OF YOUNG GRADUATES
- Training course for young graduates in Italy on issues related to green and blue economy and technological applications in agriculture
TRAINING OF TECHNICIANS AND FIRMS
- Training in Italy and on site for technicians and companies identified in collaboration with ICE offices in the target countries on high technology applied in agriculture
CIHEAM BARI
CIHEAM Bari is the Italian headquarter of CIHEAM (Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes), an intergovernmental organization founded in 1962 under the aegis of the OECD and the Council of Europe, which operates through its 4 Institutes based in Bari (Italy), Chania (Greece), Montpellier (France) and Zaragoza (Spain), while the General Secretariat is based in Paris.
CIHEAM has a long history of multilateral and regional cooperation and offers education and training, research and technical assistance. It collaborates with public administrations, universities and research centers, cooperation and development organizations, local authorities, civil society actors and companies to meet the needs of the populations and territories of the Mediterranean.
The CIHEAM Bari network involves hundreds of institutions located in different countries of the Mediterranean and Africa. In Italy, the CIHEAM Bari has a network of about 200 organizations including research, private sector, entrepreneurship, producer organizations, institutions. Thanks to this network, CIHEAM Bari ensures a timely mobilization of hundreds of experts able to operate abroad and in Italy.
CIHEAM Bari’s facilities include an International Campus located in Valenzano (Bari, Italy) and a headquarters in Tricase (Lecce, Italy) where capacity-building actions are continuously carried out with both presence and distance learning methodologies.
The CIHEAM Bari Campus includes 4 laboratories, experimental fields, greenhouses, a document centre and a Mediterranean Innovation Hub.
MEDITERRANEAN INNOVATION HUB
The Mediterranean Innovation Hub supports innovation in the agri-food sector through Open Innovation programs, the creation and strengthening of BSO – Business Support Organization and the development of innovation ecosystems. In the last 5 years the Hub has supported 65 startups; it has consolidated partnerships with 45 companies; it has created a network with 65 business incubators, accelerators, TOs and business centers in the Mediterranean; it has trained 230 young people in new professional profiles; has supported more than 100 business projects.
