In a rapidly evolving business environment marked by economic uncertainty, market disruption, and increasing competitive pressures, innovation has become a necessity rather than a choice. For Lebanon’s agrifood sector, one of the country’s most strategic economic pillars, the ability to innovate, adapt, and lead change is critical to ensuring long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth.
Recognizing this need, QOOT Cluster, in collaboration with the Professional Training Center (CFP) at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), embarked on an ambitious journey to create a first-of-its-kind executive learning experience dedicated to innovation leadership in the agrifood sector. This vision gave birth to the Executive Innovation Academy Programme (EIA), a pioneering initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world business transformation.
The Inception of EIA
The Executive Innovation Academy Programme was conceived as more than a training programme. It was envisioned as a platform capable of empowering leaders to transform knowledge into action and innovation into measurable business results.
Funded by the European Union through the EuroMed Clusters Forward Programme, implemented by ANIMA Investment Network, and led by Berytech, the Academy was co-created by QOOT Cluster , the Professional Training Center (CFP) at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), with a distinguished group of industry experts committed to strengthening innovation capabilities across Lebanon’s agrifood ecosystem.
From its inception, the Academy was built around a simple yet powerful philosophy: Think. Feel. Innovate.
Built around this, the Academy combines strategic thinking, human-centered leadership, and practical execution. Its mission is to merge academic excellence with real business results, while its vision is to establish EIA as a reference for applied innovation and executive learning in Lebanon’s agrifood sector and beyond.
Designing a New Model for Executive Learning
The Executive Innovation Academy Programme was intentionally designed to challenge traditional approaches to executive education.
Rather than relying solely on theoretical instruction, the programme adopted an experiential and application-oriented learning model that places participants at the center of the innovation process.
Its flagship programme, the Executive Program in Agrifood Innovation, is an eight-week hybrid certification (80 hours) combining weekly in-person sessions and self-paced online learning. Hosted at USJ’s Campus of Innovation and Sports, it targets senior and mid-level executives, managers, and innovation leaders with at least five years of experience and a strong interest in innovation and transformation.
The curriculum was carefully structured to provide participants with practical tools and methodologies that could be immediately applied within their organizations.
A Comprehensive Innovation Journey
The Academy’s learning journey was delivered through eight interconnected modules covering the key dimensions of innovation and leadership:
- Companies Innovation Strategies
- Disruption and Innovation
- Financing Innovation
- Design Thinking and Ideation
- Business Model Innovation
- Scaling Innovation
- Designing the Culture of Leadership and Innovation
- Innovation Management
Delivered by leading academics and practitioners including Dr. Marc Bou Zeidan, Prof. Gloria Haddad, Mr. Antoun Andrea, Dr. Ursula El Hajj, Mr. Victor Hamoush, Dr. Mohammad Merhi, and Mr. Sergio Moukarzel, the programme combines theory, case studies, interactive discussions, and real business applications.
A Successful First Cohort
The inaugural cohort for the Executive Program in Agrifood Innovation launched on January 29, 2026, bringing together executives from across Lebanon’s agrifood sector, representing companies such as Tiny Moon Cider – Distilleries du Levant, Shuman Farms, Quinta Group, LOOP s.a.r.l., Gemayel Frères, Beyond Thymes, Delta Group, Cortas Company, Caprices du Palais (Oh My Gelato), Brasserie Almaza, Bites of Delight, and AgroCedrus.
Over eight weeks, participants engaged in a collaborative learning environment centered on reflection, experimentation, and practical problem-solving, leading to the graduation on May 7, 2026, of 17 executives from 14 companies and a 100% completion rate.
Participant evaluations showed high satisfaction across all modules, with scores ranging from 7.8 to 9.2/10, highlighting the programme’s strong practical relevance, quality of instruction, applied tools, and value of peer-to-peer exchange, particularly through networking and agrifood-specific case studies.
These outcomes reinforced the importance of contextualized, sector-specific executive education that directly connects innovation concepts with real business challenges.
Looking Ahead: The Future of EIA
The successful completion of the first cohort marks an important milestone in the development of the Executive Innovation Academy Programme, but it also signals the beginning of a broader ambition.
Building on the lessons learned and the momentum generated by Cohort 1, preparations are underway for the launch of Cohort 2 of the Executive Program in Agrifood Innovation.
Cohort 2 will build on the Academy’s successful foundation while enhancing its practical impact through more agrifood-specific case studies, applied learning, and peer collaboration, further equipping leaders with the skills and tools needed to drive innovation and sustainable growth in Lebanon’s agrifood sector.
As the Executive Innovation Academy Programme EIA enters its next chapter, its mission remains unchanged: to transform leadership, strengthen organizations, and build a culture of innovation capable of shaping the future of Lebanon’s agrifood sector.
The journey has begun, and the impact is only starting to unfold.
