1. QUINTUPLE HELIX APPROACH TO TARGETED OPEN INNOVATION IN ENERGY, WATER, AGRICULTURE IN THE SOUTH MEDITERRANEAN NEIGHBORHOOD
Title
UNIMED
Mediterranean Universities Union
Marcello Scalisi
Director

2. UNIMED- Mediterranean Universities Union
UNIMED - Who we are
UNIMED is a network of universities and research centres, active in promoting Euro-Mediterranean academic cooperation. Our mission is to facilitate the Euro-Mediterranean dimension of University collaborations in order to enhance scientific, cultural, social and economic development of the region.
It counts 93 associated Universities from 22 countries of both shores of the Mediterranean.
UNIMED- Mediterranean Universities Union

3. AIMS
To support the Science and Innovation Policy Dialogue Platform for a more strategic priority setting for international cooperation on water, energy and food targeted specific following NEXUS (Agri-food, Energy, Water- approach with co-design and co-ownership.
To audit the existing international cooperation between EU-MPC focused on targeted open innovation in the energy, water and food sectors following a NEXUS approach to increase the coordination and synergies between policies and programmes among both regions.
To promote and achieve a deeper international R&I cooperation between EU-MPC in the water, energy and food sectors and contribute to the establishment of Common Knowledge and Innovation Space of specialization (RIS) 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.

4. THE PARTNERSHIP
16 countries involved (ES, IT, BE, DE, GR, FR, AT, LB, PS, TN, DZ, MO, EG, JO, LY, TR)
24 organizations
1 Chambers of commerce
6 ministries & national agencies
3 international /national networks
4 companies
1 technology transfer organization
1 foundation
1 Technological park
8 universities & research centres

5. PENTA HELIX APPROACH Government Social Organizations Education
Circulation of knowledge to enhance R&I smart specialization strategies
Government
Social Organizations
Education
Citizens
Private sector
Knowledge
Trust
Finance
Mutual
understanding
Agile & driven by competencies
Support & legitimation
To support regional development through main NEXUS opportunities

6. UNIMED’s ROLE AS A UNIVERSITY NETWORK
UNIMED as a Network is the coordinator of
WP4: Science and Innovation Policy Dialogue Platform
In this frame the Nexus Think Tank (NTT) has been set up
NTT is a group of 39 experts from different fields and countries,
structured into the 3 thematic areas
The goals are:
To identify obstacles in the development of innovation policies
To Formulate suggestions to overcome these obstacles
To produce white papers addressing these issues.

7. UNIMED’s ROLE AS A UNIVERSITY NETWORK
The existence of the UNIMED network of HEIs has been vital in order
to create the NTT
BUT
The NTT includes experts not only from academia
but also from the industry, public administrations, NGOs
Thus fostering the cooperation and exchange of views among these actors
in a truly 5 Helix approach
One of the first outcomes is that a regional (i.e. Mediterranean)
approach to innovation is difficult to implement
We are working at regional customised approaches taking into
Account national priorities and constraints

8. UNIMED- Mediterranean Universities Union
Thank you for your attention
Marcello Scalisi
UNIMED Director
UNIMED- Mediterranean Universities Union