Technology-based Entrepreneurship for Supporting Sustainability in MENA Region

Within the framework of Second Key Action “KA2 Cooperation and exchange of good practices – Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education” of Erasmus+ Programme the joint project “Technology-based Entrepreneurship for Supporting Sustainability in MENA Region / MENA-Preneurs” has started in 2021. Over a period of three years, the Global Responsibility Unit at the International Office at the University of Cologne will collaborate with eight partner universities in the MENA region and in Europe to implement the project objectives. The aim of this project is to create an interdisciplinary diploma degree and training activities in Technology Based Entrepreneurship (TBE) aiming at building a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem that can foster and allow the start-ups and SMEs to play a leading role in economic development's and job creation in MENA region.

The Suez Canal University in Egypt will coordinate the collaboration of the following partners:

• Helwan University in Egypt
• Lebanese American University
• The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon
• Sousse University in Tunisia
• Sfax University also in Tunisia
• University of Pavia in Italy
• Dublin City University in Ireland
• Rovira i Virgili University in Spain
• University of Cologne in Germany

Each of the partner universities will be responsible for conducting one of the ten working packages aiming at building a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem in the MENA region. The Global Responsibility Unit at the University of Cologne will lead the Working Package 7 on “Building up networks between academia and industry in MENA Region”. This working package aims at understanding the industrial constraints and market real-life settings and reflect it on the solutions provided by university graduates to help solving it in different life disciplines. This can lead to improvements in sustainable development and significant increase in the added values in the MENA countries economy. Indeed, the European experience is considered one of the main guidelines that can help in developing the industrial sector in the MENA region.