As part of the Lebanon Innovate program, ELCIM (Euro Lebanese Centre for Industrial Modernisation) at the Industrial Research Institute is leading a soft landing mission from 17 to 21 November 2025.
The mission includes participation in EBN Techcamp 2025 in Nivelles, Belgium, co hosted by EU|BIC CAP Innove, as well as study visits to IncubAlliance Paris Saclay and Grand Nancy Innovation in France. It brings together focal points from the ICT and Agrifood Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) to engage directly with European innovation and incubation ecosystems.
This programme creates concrete opportunities for soft landing, co incubation, and market access for Lebanese ICT, Healthtech, and Agrifood innovators. The visits to EU|BICs offer valuable opportunities to explore potential collaborations, gain deeper insights into European innovation ecosystems, and engage directly with experts in incubation and technology transfer.
Dr Maurice Mouawad, ICT Knowledge and Innovation Community focal point under Lebanon Innovate, highlighted the strategic importance of the visit for the ICT sector:
“As the representative of the ICT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under Lebanon Innovate, I am looking to use this soft landing mission at EBN Techcamp to benchmark best practices in running ICT focused innovation communities and incubation programs, particularly around IP, knowledge transfer, and commercialization models. I aim to build concrete partnerships with EU|BICs and other ecosystem players to co design soft landing and co incubation opportunities for Lebanese ICT innovators, including pathways to EU markets. Ultimately, my objective is to return with actionable collaboration frameworks, tools, and contacts that can strengthen the ICT KIC’s role as a bridge between academia, industry, and international innovation networks.”
On the Agrifood side, the mission is joined by Dr Rola El Amil, Agrifood KIC focal point and Head of Plant Breeding at the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute. She is an agricultural engineer with a PhD in cereal pathology, known for releasing wheat and barley varieties that support food security and for her strong engagement in promoting gender equality in agriculture.
Looking ahead to the mission, Dr El Amil shared her expectations:
“I’m looking forward to participate to the Soft Landing mission where I can connect with peers, share meaningful experiences, and find partners to grow and build new opportunities together.”
Insights, tools, and connections developed throughout the mission will be shared with KIC members in Lebanon, reinforcing the role of the Lebanon Innovate program and ELCIM at IRI in linking local innovators to regional and international innovation networks.
