Home to some of the world’s most ancient civilizations, hub for trade and transport, unique hotspot for biodiversity, the Mediterranean faces a multitude of common challenges, including climate change, pollution, youth unemployment and social inequality.

Acting together to address these challenges and improve the lives of men and women across the region is the impetus for the 2014-2020 ENI CBC “Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme”. ENI CBC Med is the largest Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) initiative implemented by the EU under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI).

The Programme brings together the coastal territories of 14 EU and partner countries, including Lebanon, in view of fostering fair, equitable and sustainable development on both sides of the EU’s external borders.

Budget

The overall EU contribution of the Programme for the 2014-2020 period is € 209 million, out of which €188 million for project financing. Nearly €20 million are dedicated to Technical Assistance in order to ensure the timely, smooth and efficient implementation of the Programme.

The Programme contributes up to maximum 90% of the total eligible budget costs of the projects, while a co-financing of minimum 10% must be provided at project level. The Programme does not foresee any pre-allocation of funds by country, meaning that projects are selected only on the basis of their quality.

In order to encourage a real co-ownership of the Programme, at least 50% of the project budget shall be dedicated to activities implemented in Mediterranean Partner Countries.

The 2014-2020 ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme is a multilateral Cross-Border Cooperation(CBC) initiative funded by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). The Programme objective is to foster fair, equitable and sustainable economic, social and territorial development, which may advance cross-border integration and valorise participating countries’ territories and values. The following countries participate in the Programme: Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia. The Managing Authority (JMA) is the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Italy). Official Programme languages are Arabic, English and French. For more information, please visit: www.enicbcmed.eu.

The European Union is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

Thematic Objectives and Priorities

The general objective of the Programme is to foster fair, equitable and sustainable economic, social and territorial development, which may advance cross-border integration and valorise participating countries’ territories and values. The strategy is based on the following two overall objectives: (1) Promoting economic and social development and (2) Addressing common challenges in the environment.

The strategic framework of the Programme is based on 4 Thematic Objectives and 11 Priorities as a contribution to the main socio-economic and environmental challenges of the Mediterranean region.

Berytech is involved in two of these four objectives, highlighted below.

Thematic Objective A.1 – Business and SMEs development

Priority A.1.1 – Support innovative start-ups and recently established enterprises, with a particular focus on young and women entrepreneurs, and facilitate the protection of their intellectual property rights and commercialisation where applicable

• Did you know: 80% of enterprises in the Mediterranean region are MSMEs
• Target: 200 jobs created in innovative startups
• Target: 1500 young people and women involved in training and business mentoring programmes

Priority A.1.2 – Strengthen and support euro-Mediterranean networks, clusters, consortia and value-chains in traditional sectors and non-traditional sectors

• Did you know: 9% of trade in the Mediterranean region happen between the EU and its Southern Neighbours
• Target: 90 new business agreements established among enterprises of the cooperation area
• Target: 180 new products and services sold on domestic and international markets

Priority A.1.3 – Encourage sustainable tourism initiatives and actions aimed at diversifying into new segments and niches

• Did you know: 11% average contribution in percentage of the tourism industry to the GDP of Mediterranean region*
• Target: 40 improved cultural and historical sites thanks to the Programme support
• Target: 25 new sustainable tourism packages created to increase off-season visits

Project involving Berytech: GIMED which aims to support the creation and development of eco-innovative startups in the field of the green and circular economy in the Mediterranean.

Thematic Objective A.2 – Support to education, research, technological development and innovation

Priority A.2.1 – Support technological transfer and commercialisation of research results, strengthening the linkages between research, industry and other private sector actors

• Did you know: 80% of research and development activity in the Mediterranean region is carried out by public universities and research centres
• Target: 25 university spin-off enterprises created
• Target: 20 agreements signed to boost cooperation between academia and industry

Priority A.2.2 – Support SMEs in accessing research and innovation, also through clustering

• Did you know: 90% of spending on research and development comes from the public sector in Southern Mediterranean countries[1]
• Target: 50 SMEs with enhanced innovation capacities
• Target: 1,250,000 euro as investment in selected SMEs innovation activities

Project involving Berytech: BESTMEDGRAPE which aims to turn waste from wine making into valuable and innovative commercial health products, supporting at the same the creation of new businesses.

[1] *Source: Anima Investment network “Promoting Innovation in the Mediterranean”