1. Republic of Lebanon
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Office of the Prime Minister
The Case of Lebanon
Salam Yamout
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
The “How-to” of Technology Acquisition, Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Workshop
June 20-21 2013, Cambridge
Republic of Lebanon
Presidency 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 2

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
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Technology and Innovation

4. RIYADA
RED
MEVP
Kafalat
BIAT
SME
Unit
Early
2000
FundsFacilitators
Source : Zawiya and Endeavor Lebanon
Late
2012
Cedrus
BBF
Berytech BADER
MIT
SouthBIC
Berytech
Fund
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 5
ENTREPRENEURS
LEBANON
WWW.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
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