One of the highlights of the event was a presentation by Giorgio Mosangini, Team Leader of Green Entrepreneurship and Civil Society, who described the latest achievements of the Switchers Support Program operating under the EU framework. Mosangini elaborated on how the SwitchMed II program provides support to entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in both established and emerging sectors, fostering sustainable development in different Mediterranean regions.
More specifically, the development of the blue economy model was established as a continuation of the successful implementation of the previous SwitchMed green initiative. The meeting placed strong emphasis on the significance of setting sustainable goals for the blue economy sectors, accompanied by appropriate solutions. All participating countries highlighted the importance of involving international public and private stakeholders in these dedicated projects within the Mediterranean region. These goals are considered crucial for addressing the environmental and social challenges faced by the Mediterranean region.
The meeting identified several sectors as key opportunities for implementing the blue business model and incubation program in various main sectors, including:
Coastal and marine tourism
Fisheries and aquaculture
Biotechnology related to off-shore and on-shore aquaculture applications
Onshore aquaculture (with potential synergies with coastal tourism)
Coastal tourism
Port activities
Offshore and onshore aquaculture
Notably, the participation of women in these programs has been remarkable, with a significant representation of 41% from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine combined. Looking ahead, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia are still in the process of establishing their implementation plans, taking inspiration from the best practices set by their neighboring countries
Another notable aspect of the SwitchMed program, which centers around the blue economy, is its ability to demonstrate impact through the use of an impact measurement dashboard tool. This tool facilitates the evaluation of green, social, and economic objectives, thereby highlighting the program’s comprehensive approach to sustainability in the region. By sharing knowledge, best practices, and innovative ideas, these countries are working together to achieve a prosperous and resilient future for the Mediterranean region.
22/09/2023 · START-UPS AND ENTREPRENEURS
The incubation phase has officially commenced in Palestine for four promising projects selected by the jury during a pitching event held on March 20, 2023. During this event, the blue entrepreneurs behind the pre-selected 25 best business ideas unveiled their Blue Business Models, which they had developed over the preceding months within the framework of the Switchers Support Programme. See more
04/08/2023 · START-UPS AND ENTREPRENEURS
In a recent milestone for the SwitchMed Program, face-to-face meetings were conducted with the latest batch of entrepreneurs in Israel, signaling a new chapter of innovation and collaboration. The purpose of these visits to Tel Aviv and Haifa was to gain valuable insights into the firsthand experiences of these visionary entrepreneurs and understand how the SwitchMed training has amplified their current operations, fostering a culture of sustainability and innovation. See more
19/07/2023 · START-UPS AND ENTREPRENEURS
On Thursday, July 6, 2023, SwitchMed held face-to-face meetings with the latest participants of the SwitchMed Program in Israel. See more
28/06/2023 · START-UPS AND ENTREPRENEURS
The Demo Day will take place at the University of Haifa on July 6th, 2023, featuring the SwitchMed Blue Economy methodology. Fifteen graduate participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to investors, marking the final segment of the Blue Economy program syllabus. See more
