Lebanon Innovate, a key national initiative, has taken a significant step in transforming its Knowledge & Innovation Communities (KICs) from strategic concepts into operational realities. In late November, the organization gathered leaders from industry, academia, and government for an intensive Training-of-Trainers (ToT) session aimed at launching actionable roadmaps for 2026 across the Agrifood, Healthcare, and ICT sectors.
The session was designed to equip facilitators with the necessary tools to lead sector-specific projects and embed long-term sustainability into the KICs, which serve as crucial bridges between academic research and private sector needs.
From Concept to Concrete Action
Led by Dr. Mohab Anis, CEO of Innovety, the two-day workshop focused on practical outcomes. The primary objectives were to train a new cohort of KIC facilitators, review current activities to identify immediate opportunities, and co-design comprehensive 2026 roadmaps with clear ownership and sustainability frameworks.
By emphasizing templates, timelines, and designated responsibilities, the training ensured that strategic discussions would be quickly converted into tangible pilot projects and partnerships, fostering a more robust innovation ecosystem.
Forging 2026 Roadmaps
The intensive collaboration resulted in several key outcomes for the Agrifood, Healthcare, and ICT communities. Participants finalized 2026 roadmaps structured around four pillars: ecosystem building, funding, advocacy, and capacity building.
An operational model was established, featuring monthly KIC coordination meetings and dedicated champions for project implementation, monitoring, and fundraising. The groups also identified immediate pilot projects to demonstrate quick impact, including targeted training courses on traceability systems, AI readiness for industry, and food safety practices, alongside matchmaking events for researchers and private firms.
Voices from the Ecosystem
To capture the vision for each sector, participants shared their perspectives on the path forward.
Joe Tekli, Ph.D., Professor at the Lebanese American University (LAU), highlighted the need for durable partnerships. “I believe Lebanon is in great need for strong and lasting partnerships bridging the gap between industry and academia… Our best and brightest students have much to offer, especially in the fields of digitalization and technology, and I feel our ICT KIC can play a major role in this regard.”
Speaking on the future of healthcare, Dr. Nizar Kassis-Pharm-D., R&D Manager at Benta Pharmaceutical Industries, expressed a vision for recovery and growth. “This is the time to inject as much effort and creativity as we can… to support and help the future generations in shaping the healthcare system towards innovation, sustainability and uniqueness all over the region. To let Lebanon become the hub for innovation in this sector.”
Pauline Y. Aad, Professor and TTO director at Notre Dame University, emphasized the role of innovation in agriculture. “I hope that through this KIC in agrifood we can turn challenges into opportunities in a changing world, showcase real data and stories for impactful advocacy and train change makers into leaders.”
About Lebanon Innovate
Lebanon Innovate is a national initiative dedicated to strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem by fostering collaboration between universities, research centers, private firms, government partners, and business-support organizations. Through its Knowledge & Innovation Communities (KICs), it aims to actively match academic research with sector needs, improve commercialization pathways, and increase the socioeconomic impact of research across key priority sectors.
Source: Lebanon Innovate
