Republic of LebanonPresidency of the Council of Ministers

Office of the Prime Minister

The Case of Lebanon

Salam YamoutPresidency of the Council of Ministers

The “How-to” of Technology Acquisition, Innovation and Entrepreneurship WorkshopJune 20-21 2013, Cambridge

Republic of LebanonPresidency of the Council of Ministers

Office of the Prime Minister

2

What We Know

• No clear strategy and policy, however… many initiatives– https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_JR_7wa3jPBdGhNM0FoOHVFNXM/edit?

usp=sharing

• Myths and Reality– Substantial government support in the form of various subsidies– Strength of Lebanese Universities and researchers ( Highest Citation Index in

the Arab World)– Quality students

• top scores in STIMMS test, 29% enrolment in STEM subjects, 10% enrolment Masters and PhD

– Networks available naturally– History and culture of democracy, public-private governance, freedom, etc.

• MoET is currently preparing SMEs strategy and over-arching policy

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

3

• Prior to 2012– Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements (LIRA) ALI&CNRS (since 1997)– Science Technology and Innovation Policy (2002)

• MOI Innovation Vouchers (300K) Up to EUR 10K for innovative concepts (since 2012)

• ESCWA Technology Center

• USD 30M of BDL loan package dedicated to R&D

• Innovation Survey (CNRS, PCM, & World Bank)Ongoing - Results to be revealed 28 June 2013

• iSMEs Project (MOF / Kafalat / PCM / World Bank)2.5 M for concept grants / 25 M government co-fund equity in innovative SMEs

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Technology and Innovation

RIYADARED

MEVP

Kafalat

BIAT

SME Unit

Early

2000

Fund

s Fa

cilit

ator

s

Source : Zawiya and Endeavor Lebanon

Late

2012

Cedrus

BBF

Berytech BADERMIT

SouthBIC

BerytechFund

LBA

AltCity

Endeavor

Wamda

+Inno

Mowgli

AMIDEAST

Arabnet

VC Incubator / Accelerator Bank Guarantor Facilitator Angel

# of VC

Deals

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 7 9 13

Size of bubble indicates amounts of fund

Seeqnce

Entrepreneurial Eco System

5

Exponential Organic Growth: New Comers in 2012-2013

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

ENTREPRENEURS LEBANONWWW.ENTREPRENEURSLEBANON.COM

Entrepreneurial Culture

6

Conclusions and Recommendations(What we Don’t Know)

• What are the sectors that are conducive for the next Lebanese big innovation– Supply driven– Demand driven (regional, global)

• What are the sectors that Lebanon has a competitive advantage in– Creative Industries– Design and Engineering– Food / Agro-food– Web and mobile apps

• Technology Transfer Office for all universities in Lebanon

• Government should have a clear focus, strategy and emanating policies

Presidency of the Council of Ministers