With the special collaboration of the EBSOMED project and on the sidelines of the MedaWeek Barcelona 2022 held from 16 to 18 November 2022, ASCAME organized an Academy under the theme of innovation and digital bringing together policy makers, entrepreneurs and academics from the Mediterranean region and beyond.

The 16th edition of MedaWeek in Barcelona focuses on the cooperation of the 14 countries of the Mediterranean region to achieve, in the short and long term, a sustainable economy based on prosperity and innovation in the region. The leading figures present composed of experts, politicians, and entrepreneurs, agreed that cooperation is more necessary than ever because of the coming crisis that could be avoided if the right measures are taken. The region is not only an opportunity for European companies, but also a necessity for a more inclusive Mediterranean policy since the future of Europe is played out in the South, and the economic destiny of the European Union and Africa is strongly linked to that of the Mediterranean.

The event included a pitching session presenting 22 ideas from companies from 8 Mediterranean countries operating in various sectors such as technology, sustainability, and agribusiness, which presented their solutions, products or services to the financiers present in order to identify partners and investment opportunities.

The Academy concluded with the Mediterranean Innovation Hub panel, which presented four digital platforms offering solutions to Mediterranean companies and entrepreneurs, including the Business Country Desk (BCD), an initiative developed within the framework of the EBSOMED project to assist and stimulate regional economic activity and create networks and partnerships.