REGIONAL INNOVATION FACTORY ACCELERATOR /

Bring your research or technology to market in 4 months with the virtual Regional Innovation Factory Acceleration Program

Are you a researcher, instructor, a post-graduate, an innovator, an engineer or a technician? Have you had developed an applied research project or prototype or technology and looking to access the market, create a startup and get international exposure?

The Regional Program in Brief

Berytech invites you to take part in The Regional Innovation Factory: from research to market, a program allowing you to develop your research or technology innovation in any sector into a practical and commercially-viable product or application. The program is conducted virtually.

Intensive Bootcamp

A 3-day intensive entrepreneurship bootcamp with seasoned experts

Jury Day

Pitch in front of Jury members to get feedback and get selected to receive incubation support

Incubation

Incubation support for 7 selected projects and a support grant prize (1 project in each country)

Matchmaking

Virtual matchmaking event with industry experts and potential investors for the selected projects

Softlanding

One team will be selected for a Soft-landing opportunity to get short term business and collaboration support from a European or Mediterranean partner. 

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applied research or project is innovative and technology-based
  • Project has an existing prototype or product launched in the market
  • Project addresses an important economic or social need
  • Market and economic viability of the project
  • Potential of Scalability to the Mediterranean region
  • Team expertise and motivation
  • Projects that capitalize and address opportunities in the post Covid-19 society are a plus
  • Project should be based in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, or Tunisia and should include at least 1 member who holds the nationality of the country

Applicants will be assessed based on the strength of the application, including technology innovation assessment, the economic viability and scalability potential of the project, and the team expertise and motivation.

Partner Countries

Partners

Berytech has partnered with Saba & Co. Intellectual Property, commonly referred to as Saba IP, an intellectual property firm active in Middle East and Africa, for the due diligence of the applications to the Innovation Factory Program.

The process of commercially developing research technology into new products or services varies widely. It could include licensing of intellectual property, offering technical consultancy, or selling the developed technology or the assets and knowledge developed around it. All have the potential of generating tremendous revenue streams for the people behind the technology.

The Regional Program's Timeline

The four-month regional program will be conducted virtually, and includes an intensive bootcamp, a jury day, a virtual matchmaking event, as well as an incubation phase and softlanding opportunity.

3-day intensive entrepreneurship bootcamp

December 2020

Twenty-one (21) projects will be selected from 7 countries (3 per country) to participate in a 3-day intensive virtual bootcamp, led by an international expert, for up to 2 people per team. The Bootcamp’s program focuses on teamwork, networking, mentoring sessions with international and local experts, learning, applied knowledge and exchange of expertise. It will aim at helping you explore market, funding, commercialization, and business opportunities, as well as develop a valid business model for your innovation with access to:

  • Receive technical and practical guidance and interaction with experts
  • Develop your own business model 
  • Learn about intellectual property 
  • Develop your commercialization and market strategy
  • Develop a process for technology protection
  • Learn about basic financial modelling
  • Prepare your pitch to present it to investors and partners
Group 1: December 2-4, 2020
Group 2: December 9-11, 2020

Jury Day

December 2020

Seven (7) final teams will be selected by a regional jury committee to proceed with the incubation phase. 

The pitching teams are graded and evaluated based on their value proposition, their innovation and market need, the applicability of their technology and intellectual property, their business model and scalability potential, their team and implementation capacity, and finally on their pitch effectiveness.

4-month Incubation Phase

January-April 2021

The selected teams will benefit from 4-month incubation support from Berytech and partners as well as receive a grant of 10,000€ (ten thousand euros) to be spent on technical and business support.

The 4-month incubation period will revolve around:

  • setting the selected team’s roadmap of activities,
  • assessing their needs and challenges,
  • matching them with the right experts,
  • setting up meetings with potential investors, and
  • granting them access to masterclasses.

Virtual Matchmaking Event

May 2021

The seven (7) teams will be presenting their technologies during a virtual matchmaking event, in front of an audience of partners, industry players, experts and investors, from the Mediterranean region, getting valuable feedback and collaboration opportunities for their projects.

Each startup will get the opportunity to meet for 30 mins with professionals that will help them develop their research into market.

Half day virtual event on the 27th of May on Zoom. The event will bring together experts from the MENA region to connect, share their professional feedback with the seven startups, and explore potential collaborations and partnerships. The event will also provide room for discussions, knowledge sharing and talks about the MENA region.  

The entrepreneurs will have prescheduled one-on-one meetings with: 

  • Investor/an investment expert to provide investment feedback for the startups and to prepare them to receive funding when they are ready
  • Business and Industry players that are identified by the startups and validated by the partners to explore opportunities for collaboration in their fields

e-Soft-landing mission

June-September 2021

Two teams will be selected based on the incubation progress to receive a e-soft-landing voucher and grant at a partner’s institution to gain expertise and explore collaboration to implement the project in another country 

Bring Your Research or Technology Into Market. Apply Now.

Make sure you fill in the entire application and submit it before November 5, 2020.

Partner

Lexyom is the first online legal platform of its kind crafted by super lawyers, geeky developers and excellent executers.

Lexyom gathered the best lawyers and law firms in the Arab world, including Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates to offer you the best legal advice in the Middle East through online legal consultations and legal services.

Today, Lexyom is the go to for legal and is trusted by hundreds of customers and lawyers in their daily interactions. It is secure, easy to use and affordable for people seeking justice.

Lexyom is offering the 7 finalists  sessions with an expert mentor for IP related support. 

Learn more about Lexyom here: www.lexyom.com

Need more info?

If you have any questions about the Regional Innovation Factory Program, please email Ms. Tala Saleh on tala.saleh@berytech.org, and she will get back to you.