From the R2i Alliance to the 5TOI_4EWAS UNIMED WEEK

The R2i projects’ aims To strengthen cooperation between research and business actors To enhance the innovation capacity & innovation performance To improve ToK and innovation support. To overcome innovation barriers between R & I To contribute to the definition of bi-regional programmes on innovation To foster mutually beneficial PPPs through market uptake of research results. Bridging the gap between research and innovation aligning research objectives to socio-economic needs and improving performance in managing, transferring and exploiting knowledge resulting from research

The R2i clusters in MPC Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources Forest management Agriculture & competitive agro- food industry Water treatment Health: footcare industry

The R2i clusters ecosystem More than 60 organizations 27 Research centers & Universities 8 National Agencies & Chambers of Commerce 26 Networks & technology transfer organization 4 Enterprises

The R2i recommendations to bridge the gap R2i as Privileged observatory of analysis of dynamics, problems and needs of the EU- Med area. Antennas that every day collect the instances of hundred organizations working on the fields Budapest 11/2013 Brussels 06/2014 Casablanca 03/2015 Brussels 06/2015 Messina 09/2015 R2i pointed out 10 key issues to define a future integrated innovation scheme. Marseille, 02/2016 Interaction, networking, sharing project outputs, achievements, needs and challenges

Develop and standardize soft skills by creating the capacity to use the research infrastructures and the capacity to exploit, upgrade, maintain and commercialize/valorize such facilities and the capacity to perform excellent R&DI. Stimulate an entrepreneurial innovation open ecosystem for the business creation: new startups and new ventures, risk capital culture by supporting the co-work between business schools and innovators. Set up of a programme for the creation of spin-offs and startups in Europe linked to the diaspora of researchers and refugees. Support of innovators company missions ready to deploy and to scale up emerging technologies Entrepreneurship Set up of a network of innovation agencies developed as PPP able to manage projects with real innovation outputs and impacts on the ground Set up of testing platforms open to innovation actors by developing medium size research infrastructures and networks of, to test and benchmark products and technologies. Develop of a public procurement platform where to create some network of enterprise to be able to access international tenders. Demonstrate feasibility and gain trust to further stimulate the South-South cooperation Platforms/network Create line of intervention targeted to the integration of technologies following the NEXUS approach Widespread of smart specialization strategy concept to concentrate the resources around few key priorities following the example of the EU smart specialization strategy Launch a round of calls for proposal targeted to transnational accelerators, who, in turn, can play a strategic role for making research results becoming new products and services in an efficient and effective way, accelerating the enterprises innovation. The aim is to reach the optimal financial and bureaucratic dimension between art. 185 and ERA-NET, following the example of DG Connect with the 16 FIWARE accelerator programme or the MAGRENOW calls or the ERANETMED experience Policy/integration

Water, Energy Food Nexus and the corresponding interactions

Main NEXUS opportunities to enhance smart specialization and support regional development

From the R2I alliance to the 5TOI_4EWAS project. R2I cluster WaterFood Energy 5TOI_EWAS a regional meta-cluster targeted to the NEXUS that links together: 5 R2I projects 2 Bilateral cooperation projects

5TOI_4EWAS main AIMS featuring 25 partners from 15 countries (9 from the EU and 15 from the target countries, 1 international organizations working in Region). Creation of a Science and Innovation Policy Dialogue Platform for a more strategic priority setting for international cooperation on water, energy and agriculture targeted specific challenges following a NEXUS and co-design and co-ownership approach To audit the extent of existing international cooperation between EU-MPC focused on targeted open innovation in the energy, water and agriculture sectors following a NEXUS approach to increase the coordination and synergies between policies and programmes among both regions. To promote and achieve a strengthened, broader and deeper international R&I cooperation between EU-MPC in the water, energy and agriculture sectors and contribute to the establishment of Common Knowledge and Innovation Space of specialization in the Southern Mediterranean Neighborhood. To raise awareness concerning targeted open innovation in water, agriculture and energy sectors among policy, business community and civil society to spread the concept of international cooperation between EU-MPC actors.

Joint Action Plan To support the improvement of research-policy coordination in the project domains in order to allow research to really face societal challenges; and To explain how the work plan might be amended to better align with the inventory of cooperation and degree of integration of research and innovative practice. Think Tanks Network of Science Counselors in the MPC area Creating an experienced network in which enabled think tanks operate in order to discuss about relevant topics – in relation to the selected social needs - contributing to regional development that can be solved by research, also in relation to potential political and policies paths Thematic Observatories for societal challenges To present the state of the art of existing policies in the target countries on each observatory related topic, and to contain a proposal for the renewal of existing policies in terms of approach to societal challenges Common Knowledge and Innovation Space Bridging the gap between research and innovation by creating opportunities for exchanging researchers and maximizing the value of research outputs, with the final goal to contribute to regional growth and capacity building. Research & Innovation Vouchers To ensure close synergies with the international dimension of the H2020 calls and to increase the capacity of MPC individuals (researchers and innovators) to get access to scientific excellence Research and Innovation H2020 Champions (training and capacity building) Future pivotal person that will have the objective to increase the Research and Innovation capacity of its institution and of its network Main outputs

Chambers of commerce Involvement of associated Research Parks and Venture capitalist Stimulation of policies Innovation support companies Support and development of the industrial and commercial ecosystem Business community Formulation of more effective policies in the field of Research valorization Industrial/commercial involvement and results exploitation

Partnership 24 organizations : 8 universities & research centers 6 ministries & national agencies 3 international/national networks 4 companies 1 technology park 1 foundation 1 United Nations office 1 chamber of commerce 1 technology transfer organization 16 Countries involved: Spain Italy Belgium France Germany Austria Greece Lebanon Palestine Algeria Morocco Tunisia Egypt Turkey Libya, Jordan United Nations (Lebanon),

The members Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona INNOVABIC INNOLABS UNIONE DELLE UNIVERSITÀ DEL MEDITERRANEO THE ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY UNIVERSITY OF MUSTER CENTER FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ITEMS INTERNATIONAL GIRAF PM Services GmbH BERYTECH FOUNDATION AN-NAJAH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY AGENCE NATIONALE DE PROTECTION DE L'ENVIRONMENT AGENCE NATIONALE DE VALORISATION DES RÉSULTATS DE LA RECHERCHE ET DU DÉVELOPPEMENT TECHNOLOGIQUE MINISTRY OF RESEARCH – TUNISA ASSOCIATION MAROCAINE POUR LA RECHERCHE – DÉVELOPPEMENT (R&D MAROC) INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE D ALGERIE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR WESTERN ASIA LB NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMISSION TURKIYE BILIMSEL VE TEKNOLOJIK ARASTIRMA KURUMU - TUBITAK ROYAL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY (IPARK) CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE ET D’INDUSTRIE DU CENTRE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING CONSULTING OFFICE MINISTÈRE DE L'ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR, DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE ET DE LA FORMATION DES CADRES