Join us online as we bring together Lebanese enterprises and SMEs, knowledge providers and support institutions to learn about and check opportunities for joint R&D projects.
For this edition, we will shed light on consumer behaviors in light of the current situation. The meeting will be held online.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Theme: Competitiveness
The webinar link will be shared by email with the registered participants.
Speakers and Themes
Industry-academic partnerships: An approach to accelerate innovation
Dr. Rodrigue Balaa – Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Engineering Technology at the Issam Fares Faculty of Technology of the University of Balamand
Dr. Rodrigue El Balaa holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine – Nancy – France. He is the Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Engineering Technology at the Issam Fares Faculty of Technology of the University of Balamand. He is an expert in Agricultural Value Chains and has been involved in and managed numerous studies and development projects funded by international donors.
Dr. El Balaa is die hard supporter of the quintuple innovation helix framework which involves an environment of collaboration between universities, industry, government, and civil society within a knowledge economy. In this framework, he has been one of the early supporters of Berytech’s Agrytech program and the QOOT cluster for the development of such environment.
Consumers behavior in light of the current situation
Jimmy Ghazal – Founder of “MindLab” and Senior Executive Advisor at “Le Charcutier” supermarket chain.
Jimmy Ghazal is a leading communication expert with over 20 years of experience in Branding, Advertising, Content, Publishing, Political Communications, and Innovation. Jimmy worked on iconic local, regional, and international projects ranging from Retails, F&B, Fashion, Tourism, Banking, Telecom, Media, Religious, Governmental, and Political. After many years with agency networks, Jimmy founded “Mindlab”, a creative, business, and innovation-based consultancy, working on enhancing brand experiences and perceptions. He has received multiple industry awards, and his work has been published and internationally recognized.
Jimmy Ghazal is a seasoned public speaker and lecturer talking in conferences and events across the region. Lately, he has been actively promoting the notion of “Experience is the new Marketing” as the challenge for brands today is no longer about selling products and services, but rather enhancing and amplifying the experience perception of the brand. This is done by crafting positive and emotional brand experiences that meet the customers’ expectations and adapt to market/audience needs. Anytime, anywhere.
On a parallel front, Jimmy serves as a Senior Executive Advisor for “Le Charcutier” supermarket chain. He is contributing to the growth of the brand to become one of the largest and most established Lebanese retailers. Jimmy is a mentor in the Lebanon tech startup ecosystem. He is also an occasional tech/innovation blogger digitally known as “Techie Dad”. Jimmy is also university Instructor teaching Branding and Information Architecture at the “American University of Beirut” (AUB), and Media Entrepreneurship at The “Lebanese American University” (LAU) and an Advisory Board member to the Faculty of Arts and Design and the Notre Dame University (NDU).
SME Grant opportunities: LEEP-UKAID program overview for SMEs to benefit to overcome the current economic situation
Nadine Tawk – SME and Partnerships Manager at Palladium, LEEP UKAID funded program
Nadine is a Business Development strategist, she graduated with an Executive Master’s Degree from the Lebanese American University.
In addition to being a Business Advisor, Nadine pursued an international escalating career in Telecom, IT Consulting, Fintech and private sector development achieving companies’ growth, consistent development and profitability.
She has a proven track record of business growth management, P&L turnaround, managing customers’ needs and expectations. Recently she is using her skills in strategic and tactical management, program development and business transformation to help organizations to develop, launch and implement successful products and programs.
