In the framework of the program "Fostering Innovation" of the Marseille Centre for Mediterranean Integration (MCMI), a Technical Workshop entitled "Services to innovative firms: Roles of Technopoles and Incubators" was organized by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank Institute (WBI).

The Marseille Centre for Mediterranean Integration has been created by a Memorandum of Understanding among Founding Members, which include Lebanon, Egypt, France, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, as well as the European Investment Bank and the World Bank.

The Workshop was held in Marseille on the 28th & 29th of April 2011, with more than 25 participants from the Mediterranean partner countries and led by experts of innovation. It was essentially be based on The Guidebook "Plan and manage a Science Park in the Mediterranean" that was published in March 2010; the Guidebook can be downloaded on: http://www.cmimarseille.org/_src/Report_GuideBookTechnopole_EN.pdf

Dr. Nicolas Rouhana, Director of Berytech was part of the Lebanese Delegation, which also grouped representatives from other Lebanese incubators and funds, Kafalat, LCNRS and UNESCWA Technology Centre. He was panelist in the session “Evaluation and Best Practices” chaired by Jean-Eric Aubert, Advisor CMI, in which Dr. Rouhana shared Berytech’s experience in evaluation techniques methods, cost benefit analysis, and the inherent complexities of service such as, for example, the need to evaluate many objectives, and the inability to quantify long term, intangible effects like learning attitudes and structural change.
The workshop was a great platform to exchange best practice and network with peers from Mediterranean countries having similar challenges in defining an innovation eco-system (policies, financing, technopoles, incubators, etc.). All the participants agreed on keeping the momentum of the exchange going, and one main recommendation that everyone agreed upon is the creation of a network of the present stakeholders called “MEDAinc”.

Dr. Rouhana had also the chance to visit the Marseille-Innovation accelerator and the Media Pole of the Belle-de-Mai in Marseille. A delegation will be visiting Lebanon mid-June for follow-up.