Innovation a development priority for the Mediterranean

Innovation is a development priority for the Mediterranean partner countries, allowing the greater integration of national economies within the region, while accelerating an improvement in standards in companies and training organisations in order to achieve ever-greater international competitiveness, according to the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The innovation priority was the focus of a press conference held at the Centre de Marseille pour l'Intégration en Méditerranée (CMI) - a platform co-founded last year by the EIB, the World Bank, the governments of Egypt, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, and the city of Marseille.

A press release said the EIB had put innovation at the forefront of the priorities of its financial arm in the Mediterranean, FEMIP, accounting for more than €300 million in loans since 2002, with support to major projects like the creation of five specialised technopoles and science parks in Tunisia or the creation of the first ‘business angels' network to encourage innovative enterprise.

The press conference also saw the presentation of a guidebook of technopoles and science parks in the Mediterranean, produced in collaboration by the EIB, the World Bank, the EU-funded Medibtikar project and the city of Marseille. The guide aims to help decision-makers plan and manage technopoles and science parks so they can act as a major point of attraction for national economies.

The EuroMed Innovation and Technology Programme, Medibtikar came to an end at the beginning of 2010. Running for three years with a budget of €7.24 million, it worked to disseminate innovative practices by developing exchanges between planners, policy makers and stakeholders in the ENPI South region.