Future4PRIMA Enabling Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholder Board (F4P-EIESB)
About the F4P-EIESB
The Future4PRIMA Enabling Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholder Board (F4P-EIESB) is a high-level advisory body established by the FUTURE4PRIMA Executive Board in January 2025 to strengthen innovation ecosystems across the Mediterranean region.
Its role is to help ensure that research and innovation supported by the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) can more effectively reach markets, users, and society, particularly in Southern Mediterranean and widening countries.
The Board brings together leading figures from research organisations, industry, entrepreneurship, civil society, and policy. Members are appointed in a personal capacity and represent a wide spectrum of experience relevant to water, agriculture, food systems, climate resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Purpose and Role
The F4P-EIESB guides FUTURE4PRIMA and PRIMA in shaping a stronger and more connected Mediterranean innovation landscape. Its core responsibilities include:
1. Providing strategic advice:
• Supporting the uptake and practical use of research and innovation results;
• Identifying barriers that slow down innovation and proposing ways to address them;
• Highlighting opportunities for better collaboration between researchers, businesses, financiers, end-users, and public authorities.
2. Co-creating innovation roadmaps:
The Board contributes to a structured roadmapping process designed to accelerate the commercialisation and societal uptake of PRIMA-funded innovations.
This process includes three regional workshops held in Egypt (2025), Cyprus (2026) and Greece (2028), supported by regular meetings.
3. Strengthening the Mediterranean innovation ecosystem
The EIESB promotes:
• Closer links between academia and industry;
• Clearer understanding of end-user needs;
• Stronger participation of women and youth in innovation;
• Wider use of existing networks, platforms, and regional initiatives;
• Long-term cooperation between Mediterranean countries on innovation.
4. Supporting PRIMA’s strategic future
Through its insights and recommendations, the Board helps shape the future orientation of the PRIMA partnership and its contribution to the Mediterranean’s resilience and sustainable development.
Members of the F4P-EIESB (in alphabetical order of last name)
- Dr Majd Al Naber –Royal Scientific Society, West Asia-North Africa Institute (Jordan)
- Roger Albinyana – European Institute of the Mediterranean & co-chair of F4P-EIESB (Spain)
- Mohamed Aljafari – Royal Scientific Society / iPark (Jordan)
- Youssef Brouziyne – International Water Management Institute, CGIAR (Egypt)
- Vangelis Constantianos – Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (Greece)
- Zied Debabbi – BUSINESSMED (Tunisia)
- Nicolas Farhat – Berytech & co-chair of F4P-EIESB (Lebanon)
- Mohamed Salah Frad – United Gulf Financial Services North Africa (Tunisia)
- Dr Heba Labib – Nile University, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centers (Egypt)
- Dr Maged Mahmoud – Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Egypt)
- Luis Miranda – Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Spain)
- Amira Ramadan – Women in Tech, Egypt Chapter (Egypt)
- Demetris Skourides – Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus (Cyprus)
How the EIESB Operates
The Board meets several times each year, combining in-person workshops with online sessions.
Its work is supported by a dedicated secretariat ensuring smooth organisation, documentation, and follow-up, managed jointly by the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research & Technology (ASRT) (Egypt) and DLR Projektträger (Germany).
Members contribute their expertise voluntarily and collaborate within an environment that encourages co-creation, dialogue, and long-term partnership building.
