QOOT Lebanese Innovation Cluster, in partnership with Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), through its Professional Training Center (CFP), officially inaugurated the Executive Innovation Academy Programme (EIA), a new leadership platform designed to equip decision-makers with the mindset, practical tools, and strategic networks required to drive sustainable innovation and measurable impact.
The Executive Innovation Academy Programme (EIA) is a hybrid executive certification programme funded by the European Union through the EuroMed Clusters Forward Programme, implemented by ANIMA Investment Network, led by Berytech, and co-created by QOOT Lebanese Innovation Cluster and the Professional Training Center (CFP) at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ). The initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening innovation leadership and supporting the sustainable growth of Lebanon’s agrifood ecosystem.
Bringing Together Academia, Industry, and International Partners
The inauguration ceremony brought together leading representatives from academia, industry, and international institutions, including Prof. François Boëdec, SJ, Rector of USJ; Prof. Nadine Riachi Haddad, Secretary-General of USJ; Mr. Cyril Dewaleyne, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, representing H.E. Mrs. Sandra De Waele, EU Ambassador to Lebanon; Prof. Fadi El Hage, Delegate of the Rector and Director of CFP; Mr. Maroun Chammas, Chairman and CEO of Berytech; and Mr. Nabil Schumann, President of QOOT Cluster and its Board of Directors, alongside vice-rectors, instructors, and ecosystem stakeholders.
The ceremony, moderated by Mrs. Therese Maalouf, QOOT Cluster Development and Project Manager, highlighted the growing strategic importance of innovation in an increasingly complex regional environment. The Academy was presented as a collaborative platform to drive sustainable transformation while strengthening ties with international expertise and partners.
Building Lebanon’s Next Generation of Agrifood Leaders
At the heart of the Academy lies its flagship Executive Programme in Agrifood Innovation (EPAI), an 80-hour hybrid executive programme combining in-person workshops with online learning modules.
Designed as an applied and sector-focused learning journey, the programme provides hands-on experience, sector-specific insights, and leadership development, with a focus on innovation strategy, disruptive thinking, design thinking, scaling, execution, and governance.
Prof. Fadi El Hage emphasized the importance of experiential learning approaches that combine theoretical frameworks with real-world application.
“Executive Programme in Agrifood Innovation combines sector expertise with practical knowledge to drive forward-looking solutions. We are proud to welcome this pioneering cohort, and we thank our partners for their support in making this learning journey possible.” – Prof. Fadi El Hage.
The programme also marks a strategic milestone for QOOT Lebanese Innovation Cluster, reflecting its mission to strengthen competitiveness and resilience within the agrifood sector.
“The Executive Innovation Academy represents a defining milestone in QOOT’s journey. Since 2022, we have been committed to positioning innovation as a continuous organizational practice, one that is learned, shared, practiced, and embedded to drive sustainable impact.” – Mr. Nabil Schumann.
As the lead implementing partner of the Executive Innovation Academy Programme, Mr. Maroun Chammas highlighted Berytech’s longstanding commitment to advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and cluster development in Lebanon.
“Driving economic development requires strong collective action. Berytech remains committed to supporting innovation through job creation, cluster development, and leading the implementation of the Executive Innovation Academy.” – Mr. Maroun Chammas.
The academic dimension of the Academy reflects USJ’s commitment to fostering innovation-driven education that connects research, professional practice, and societal impact. Prof. François Boëdec reaffirmed that universities extend beyond knowledge transmission, serving as spaces for innovation, reflection, and action.
“Innovation is a mindset cultivated through interdisciplinary dialogue and openness. By connecting the University to broader economic, social, and professional ecosystems, challenges become opportunities for progress and leadership development.” – Prof. François Boëdec.
Reinforcing the programme’s international dimension, Mr. Cyril Dewaleyne, speaking on behalf of the European Union, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting innovation, skills development, and sustainability in Lebanon.
“Strengthening innovation ecosystems requires strong collaboration between clusters, academia, and industry. Through targeted grant support, we are committed to advancing innovation-driven initiatives that generate long-term strategic impact.” – Mr. Cyril Dewaleyne.
Powering Innovation Through Collaboration
The ceremony continued with a programme overview followed by an interactive panel discussion moderated by Prof. El Hage, during which the Academy’s instructors presented the eight training modules forming the Executive Programme in Agrifood Innovation curriculum, offering participants a comprehensive understanding of the programme’s learning journey.
Dr. Marc Bou Zeidan, Executive Director of QOOT Lebanese Innovation Cluster, introduced the Companies Innovation Strategies module, focusing on tailoring innovation approaches to organizational contexts, defining performance indicators, and benchmarking against best practices. Complementing this strategic perspective, Prof. Gloria Haddad, Associate Professor and Chair of the Management and Entrepreneurship Department at USJ, presented the Disruption and Innovation module, guiding participants through change management and adaptive strategies to navigate evolving market dynamics.
Addressing the financial dimension of innovation, Mr. Antoun Andrea, Capacity Builder and Business Development Expert, introduced the Financing Innovation module, which equips participants with tools to identify funding opportunities, attract investment, and assess financial risks to support sustainable innovation initiatives. This was complemented by Dr. Ursula El Hage, Director of the Center for Competencies and Entrepreneurship at USJ, who presented the Design Thinking and Ideation module, emphasizing empathy-driven problem discovery, rapid prototyping, and iterative solution development.
Expanding the programme’s strategic and operational focus, Mr. Victor Hamoush, Strategy and Capital Markets Consultant, introduced the Business Model Innovation module, which supports participants in designing and validating value propositions and adapting business models to evolving market needs. Dr. Mohammad Merhi, AI and Digital Transformation Consultant, followed with the Scaling Innovation module, addressing governance frameworks, quality assurance, and agile project management approaches required to successfully scale innovation projects.
The programme further explores organizational transformation through the Designing the Culture of Leadership and Innovation module, developed by Mr. Sergio Moukarzel and presented by Prof. El Hage, enabling participants to assess and reshape organizational culture while fostering leadership approaches that encourage creativity, experimentation, and continuous learning.
Concluding the academic curriculum, Dr. Marc Bou Zeidan presented the Innovation Management module, which equips participants with structured frameworks to translate innovation strategies into actionable initiatives, prioritize projects, and build cross-functional teams that sustain innovation as an ongoing organizational process.
Redefining Leadership Through Innovation
The launch ceremony concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between USJ and QOOT Cluster, formalizing their strategic partnership and shared commitment to advancing innovation, collaboration, and ecosystem development. The first Executive Programme in Agrifood Innovation session followed immediately, marking the official start of the Academy’s inaugural cohort and the beginning of its applied learning journey.
The Executive Innovation Academy Programme marks a significant step toward empowering leaders to transform knowledge into action and innovation into measurable impact. By bridging academia, industry, and international expertise, the Academy aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of driving sustainable growth, strengthening resilience, and shaping the future of Lebanon’s innovation ecosystem.
