In a region where summers are growing hotter and water is becoming scarcer, one Lebanese startup is looking 4,000 years into the past to find answers, and turning them into a thriving business.  

Meet OyaWay , the first company to bring oyas, ancient clay irrigation pots, to the Lebanese and broader MENA market. The concept is elegantly simple: a porous ceramic vessel buried near a plant’s roots slowly releases water directly into the soil through osmosis, delivering exactly what the plant needs, when it needs it, with near-zero waste from evaporation or surface runoff.  

The result? Up to 70% less water used, and plants that thrive on their own, without daily attention from their owners  

70%  

water saved vs. conventional irrigation  

4,000  

years of proven irrigation history behind the oya technique  

1st  

company to market oyas in Lebanon and the region  

The Problem Worth Solving  

Watering plants and gardens sounds simple enough. But for millions of households and businesses across Lebanon and the wider MENA region, it is anything but. Between the fear of over or underwatering, the daily time commitment, and the mounting anxiety of water shortages during peak summer months, many people end up either neglecting their plants or wasting precious water in the process.  

OyaWay’s founders identified this friction and responded not by reinventing the wheel, but by reviving and updating one of humanity’s most time-tested inventions. Their clay oyas, manufactured locally, act as underground reservoirs. Buried at the root level, water slowly and consistently seep through their micropores into the surrounding soil. Plants draw moisture only when they need it, with watering taking place over 5 to 10 days on average.   

“Oyas provide both households and businesses with an easy, convenient, and hassle-free watering system that allows plants to take just the right amount of water, only when needed”.  

— Paul Samaha, Founder  

From Selection to Acceleration: OyaWay’s Journey Inside ScaleSmart  

OyaWay was selected as one of only four startups to join the third batch of ScaleSmart, Berytech’s competitive pre-investment acceleration program designed to help growth-stage companies become investment-ready.   

Since joining, OyaWay has been immersed in an intensive, structured program that spans financial modeling, marketing strategy, governance, fundraising, and product development, all tailored to the unique realities of each startup.  

December 2025
Application & Outreach  

OyaWay applied to ScaleSmart Batch 3 following Berytech’s outreach events including the Raise Smart Webinar and the Meet the Sharks event.  

January 2026  
Due Diligence & Selection  

After passing due diligence checks and ScaleSmart interviews as a Top 10 candidate, OyaWay was selected into the final cohort of four startups.  

February 2026  
Induction & Needs Assessment  

OyaWay completed its online induction with the ScaleSmart team, submitted a self-assessment, and began one-on-one needs assessment clinics with the Investment Unit.  

February – April 2026  
Workshops & Expert Clinics  

Intensive workshops in financial modeling & valuation, marketing & growth hacking, and personalized clinics in product optimization and growth strategy with external industry experts.  

May – June 2026  
Fundraising, Governance & Pitching  

Workshops and clinics in fundraising roadmap, sales strategy, governance for scaling, and now pitching, with the demo day approaching.  

What OyaWay Is Building Right Now  

Being first to market always comes with a particular challenge: you must educate your audience before you can sell to them. Very few people in Lebanon, let alone the wider MENA region, have heard of oyas, and OyaWay’s team is acutely aware of this. A significant focus of their work inside ScaleSmart is figuring out the right strategies to raise awareness and bring a genuinely unfamiliar product into the mainstream.

“What works, says Paul, founder, is word of mouth - which allowed us to secure deals with offices, restaurants, and guest houses. In the end, both businesses and households face the same watering challenges”. 

Challenges Faced, Current Focus, and ScaleSmart’s Support   

One of OyaWay’s biggest priorities upon entering ScaleSmart was gaining a thorough understanding of its finances and validating its multi-year sales projections with confidence. Today, the team is focused on raising awareness in a first-to-market category while scoping the operational needs to establish its own oya manufacturing unit. Through ScaleSmart, OyaWay is also building a solid growth strategy with concrete KPIs to measure success and strengthen its readiness for future investors.  

The Vision  

Looking ahead, OyaWay envisions sustainable growth through investor partnerships and continuous product innovation for households and businesses across the MENA region.  

On the operational side, OyaWay is also working toward establishing its own manufacturing unit, a move that would allow greater quality control, scalability, and cost efficiency as demand grows. It is an ambitious goal that the ScaleSmart program is helping them plan for methodically.  

Why This Matters Beyond the Business  

Lebanon faces one of the most acute water stress challenges in the world. As climate change intensifies summer droughts and public water infrastructure remains unreliable, solutions that drastically reduce water consumption are not just commercially interesting; they are genuinely necessary. OyaWay’s product sits at the rare intersection of ecological responsibility, cultural heritage, and practical everyday utility.  

Looking Ahead 

As ScaleSmart Batch 3 heads into its final stretch, OyaWay is preparing to take their growth further with exposure, networking, and opportunities at upcoming ScaleSmart matchmaking and investment events. But their ambition stretches beyond:   

The team aspires to use ScaleSmart’s offerings to establish OyaWay as the definitive name in sustainable irrigation across MENA, continuously innovating their product for both households and businesses, and building the kind of investor-backed foundation that turns a first-mover advantage into lasting market leadership.  

“We want to leverage ScaleSmart’s mentorship, resources and network connections to set OyaWay on the path for healthy growth through strong partnerships, and to innovate our offerings for both households and businesses in the MENA region.”  

–  OyaWay Team  

Follow OyaWay’s journey on Instagram and LinkedIn, and explore their full product range at oyaway.com.  

The post Ancient Wisdom, Modern Impact: OyaWay Brings a 4,000-Year-Old Solution to the MENA’s Water Crisis  appeared first on Berytech.

This year’s edition welcomes 14 startups working across agrifood and cleantech technologies. For the first time, they will progress through much of the program as one cohort, learning side by side while continuing to receive the specialized support each venture needs to grow within its own field. 

Over the next six months, participating startups will follow an intensive acceleration program designed to help them validate their solutions, strengthen their business models, and prepare for growth. Through workshops, technical clinics, one-on-one mentorship, business coaching, and hands-on guidance, founders will be supported every step of the way. Following the acceleration phase, selected startups will continue into a four-month incubation phase, receiving additional support to further develop and commercialize their innovations. 

While each team faces its own technical and market-specific challenges, many of the entrepreneurial skills needed to build a successful business are shared. More importantly, this approach reflects the way innovation increasingly happens today. Agrifood startups are increasingly looking to technologies that improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, optimize production, and strengthen sustainability. At the same time, many cleantech solutions find their greatest impact when applied to real challenges faced by industries such as agrifood. 

Bringing these entrepreneurs together creates opportunities that go beyond sharing the same workshops. It allows founders to learn from different perspectives, discover unexpected synergies, and challenge one another’s thinking, while continuing to benefit from tailored guidance that responds to their unique technologies, markets, and stage of growth. The result is a richer learning experience that combines the strength of a shared entrepreneurial foundation with the depth of sector-specific expertise. 

Throughout the program, participants will also gain access to Berytech’s wider network of mentors, investors, industry experts, corporate partners, and innovation stakeholders. Along the way, they’ll build valuable connections, strengthen their market readiness, and gain exposure to local and international ecosystems that can help open doors to partnerships, funding opportunities, and new markets long after the program comes to an end. 

The selected startups represent a diverse range of solutions tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges across agrifood and cleantech. Over the coming months, they will work closely with Berytech and its network of partners to transform promising ideas into scalable businesses with the potential to create lasting economic and environmental impact. 

“An accelerator isn’t just about helping startups move faster. It’s about exposing founders to the right people, the right questions, and sometimes the unexpected conversations that completely change the way they think. This edition isn’t simply about combining two programs. It’s about intentionally creating the kind of environment where different experiences collide, assumptions are challenged, and innovation happens in ways you can’t plan for.” 

• Elise Sfeir, Program Manager 

As the Agrytech Accelerator enters its eighth edition and the Clyntech Accelerator reaches its fifth, this joint cohort marks an exciting new chapter for both programs. By bringing together entrepreneurs working on complementary challenges while preserving the specialized support that defines each accelerator, Berytech continues to build an innovation ecosystem where stronger businesses, and stronger solutions, can grow together. 

Meet the selected startups  

From pollination drones to recycled fabric fibers, the fourteen startups below show just how wide-ranging agrifood and cleantech innovation can be. Each one brings a different idea and market, but they all share the same goal: building a sustainable, scalable business. 

• Beaver: An educational construction system using wooden bars, reusable connectors, and a child-safe cutter to help kids build real structures from their own ideas, sustainably. 

• BeeBot: An autonomous pollination drone using AI flower detection to support orchards during critical bloom periods, reducing labor dependency and pollen waste. 

• Eggs with Benefits: A Lebanese agrifood brand producing organic, nutrient-enriched free-range eggs (Omega-3, Vitamins A & E) with no antibiotics or hormones. 

• Fotra: A biotech startup growing edible and medicinal mushrooms indoors, with a long-term vision of mycelium-based materials for construction and furniture. 

• FullFarm: A mobile app that digitizes livestock farm management, replacing paper tracking with digital cow profiles, milk production logs, and smart health reminders. 

• Krich: Biotech that converts poultry feather waste into high-value keratin-based ingredients for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. 

• Lebotanica: A Bekaa Valley agritech venture turning crops and by-products into oils, extracts, and skincare goods through regenerative farming and in-house processing. 

• Nawah: A smart food scanning platform that gives instant, personalized health scores by analyzing nutrition, additives, and allergens. 

• Nexora: A cleantech startup converting post-consumer PET waste into recycled Polyfloss fibers, a sustainable alternative to virgin polyester filling. 

• Ovitech: An agritech startup with a proprietary device for controlled artificial impregnation of sheep. 

• Sapore Del Sud: A circular olive oil venture in Deir Mimas producing EVOO, olives, and soap, while converting byproducts into eco-friendly fuel briquettes. 

• SIMAR: A traceability platform connecting verified local producers directly with restaurants and retailers via lab-tested, QR-coded digital records. 

• Tenue: An AI-powered digital closet and stylist app that reduces impulse buying by matching new purchases against your existing wardrobe. 

• Tiny Tummy: A virtual restaurant delivering fresh, ready-to-eat meals designed for infants and toddlers, via cloud kitchens and subscriptions. 

The post One cohort, two accelerators: Berytech launches a special joint edition of the Agrytech and Clyntech Accelerators  appeared first on Berytech.

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.”

The post From Idea to Market: When and How to Protect Your Innovation appeared first on Berytech.

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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

The post The Clyntech Accelerator Launches Its Fourth Batch appeared first on Berytech.

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.

The post Berytech Partners with NetCommerce to Empower Digital Trade appeared first on Berytech.

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.

The post Cracking the Code: How to Make the Algorithm Work for You appeared first on Berytech.

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. 

The post Bridging the Gap: From Research to Market in Agri-Food Innovation  appeared first on Berytech.

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.

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.

The post Around the Mediterranean with Cluster Connect: Berytech Enabling Regional Collaboration appeared first on Berytech.

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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