EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Mediterranean Sea Basin (NEXT MED)

Date of latest update: 2026-02-27

Description

Description (EN):

PROJECT TYPE: 1 - Thematic projects ~ MAIN INTERVENTION FIELD: 026. Support for innovation clusters including between businesses, research organisations and public authorities and business networks primarily benefiting SMEs ~ SUMMARY: The SPEEDUP project "EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth" is the instrument that will deliver to unemployed and disadvantaged people the mentoring, motivation and organizational services they need to set up own sustainable and competitive business in the countries Greece, Spain, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and Tunisia. The concept of the SPEEDUP project is an evolution of previous initiatives based on the implementation of a locally distributed Accelerator for different aims, such as quality and sustainability. Within SPEEDUP, the Accelerator concept will be extended to include the whole Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) spectrum, and Green and Circular Economy as well, with a special attention to equality, inclusiveness and competitiveness. This main objective will be reached through the implementation of a network of local hubs in the project countries, acting as catalysts and clusters and uniting all the relevant stakeholders in each area that are related to entrepreneurship in the form of startups. The SPEEDUP hubs will operate as a distributed kind of “Park”, offering training/mentoring locally, in the form of jointly developed Acceleration programme. The partnership by itself will demonstratively put in place the long term development of the SPEEDUP network: applicant and partners will act as main local hubs, ensuring the financial sustainability, the local coordination and the international connection among all SPEEDUP main hubs; the associated partners will join the network as local member hubs, make use of the SPEEDUP achievements and continue fostering the SMEs sustainable growth after the end of the action; additional local actors will be encouraged to join the network and operate local member hubs within the implementation. Through its Acceleration programme, SPEEDUP will infuse sustainability issues into 210 SMEs participating to the project pilot and promote the start and competitive growth of 140 businesses. ~ KEEP KEYWORDS: Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks, Labour market and employment, SME and entrepreneurship

Expected Achievements (EN):

Management coordination Communication and dissemination CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: International network of Accelerating hubs ~ EXPECTED RESULT: Accelerating hubs created, human resources to operate hubs trained CODE: SO2ER2 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: Acceleration programme ~ EXPECTED RESULT: Acceleration programme created and practiced; enhancement of SMEs' growth and competitiveness; job creation in SMEs CODE: SO2ER2 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: Acceleration programme ~ EXPECTED RESULT: Acceleration programme created and practiced; enhancement of SMEs' growth and competitiveness; job creation in SMEs

Project outputs: (1.1) Coordination(EN)
(1.2) Quality monitoring and evaluation of results(EN)
(1.3) Executive management(EN)
(2.1) Information and awareness raising campaigns(EN)
(2.2) Promotion and dissemination events(EN)
(2.3) Advocacy initiatives(EN)
(3.1) Transnational network of Accelerating hubs is created(EN)
(3.2) Human resources operating the networked hubs are trained(EN)
(4.1) Acceleration programme is created(EN)
(4.2) Acceleration programme is practiced(EN)
(5.1) New and existing SMEs are empowered(EN)
(5.1) New and existing SMEs are empowered(EN)
Website: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/speedup/about/

Thematic information

Labour market and employment Governance, partnership SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-B_MSB_1) Priority 1: A more competitive and smarter Mediterranean

Priority specific objective: RSO1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 026 Support for innovation clusters including between businesses, research organisations and public authorities and business networks primarily benefiting SMEs

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: EPISTIMONIKO PARKO PATRON AE

Partner’s ID if not PIC: GR123170016000 | PROFIT MAKING: True ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Stadiou 1, 26504 Patras, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://psp.org.gr/

Total budget: EUR 609 850.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 542 766.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 67 083.50

غرفة التجارة والصناعة لتونس / Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Tunis

Name: غرفة التجارة والصناعة لتونس / Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Tunis

Department: COOPERATION AND PROJECTS DEPARTMENT

Partner’s ID if not PIC: RNE : 0014508Y | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True | Issuance of origin certificates for export and ATA Carnets representing 90% of CCIT's revenue ar... (EN)

Address: Tunis, Tunisia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.ccitunis.org.tn

Total budget: EUR 353 790.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 314 873.10

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 38 916.90

C.F.C.D.C. CENTRE FOR COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT CYPRUS

Name: C.F.C.D.C. CENTRE FOR COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT CYPRUS

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4192-1189 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Agiou Theodotou, 4A, Strovolos, 2055 Strovolos, Cyprus

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Total budget: EUR 332 250.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 295 702.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 36 547.50

انجاز لبنان

Name: انجاز لبنان

Department: Entrepreneurship, Career Readiness & Financial Literacy trainings.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: Ministry of Finance 5713 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Beirut, Lebanon

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.injaz-lebanon.org

Total budget: EUR 301 550.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 268 379.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 33 170.50

الأكاديمية العربية للعلوم والتكنولوجيا والنقل البحري

Name: الأكاديمية العربية للعلوم والتكنولوجيا والنقل البحري

Partner’s ID if not PIC: Decree no 2631/1970 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Alexandria, Egypt

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website (not verified): http://aast.edu

Total budget: EUR 382 650.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 340 558.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 42 091.50

جامعة البلقاء التطبيقية

Name: جامعة البلقاء التطبيقية

Department: Mechanical engineering department

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4192-1189 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Al-Salt, Jordan

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://www.bau.edu.jo

Total budget: EUR 350 150.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 311 633.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 38 516.50

Cámara Oficial de Comercio, Industria, Servicios y Navegación de Sevilla

Name: Cámara Oficial de Comercio, Industria, Servicios y Navegación de Sevilla

Department: International, Competitiveness and Enterpreneurship Dep.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 997330042 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True | According to the legal nature of the organisation, a pro-rate is established every year and it us... (EN)

Address: Plaza de la Contratación 8, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://camaradesevilla.com/

Total budget: EUR 478 740.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 426 078.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 52 661.40

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tunis

EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Partners and Projects info

C.F.C.D.C. CENTRE FOR COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT CYPRUS

EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Partners and Projects info

INJAZ Lebanon

EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Partners and Projects info

Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport

EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Partners and Projects info

Al-Balqa Applied University

EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Partners and Projects info

Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Shipping of Seville

EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Partners and Projects info

PATRAS SCIENCE PARK S.A.

EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Project acronym: SPEEDUP~A_T_1.2_0543

Project ID: 00044

Project start date: 2025-07-03

Project end date: 2028-07-02

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Interreg ADRION / A4SUSTINNO "A distributed one stop shop FOR more SUstainable STartups and INNOvative SMEs", LP PSP as coordinator (EN) | Novel methodology and highly replicable business model tested extensively in 9 areas (EN), Horizon 2020/SMART4ALL "Selfsustained Cross Border Customized Cyber-physical System Experiments for Capacity Building among European Stakeholders" (04/02/2019-04/02/2023), LP PSP as partner (EN) | Network of Digital Innovation Hubs for boosting technology and business development through matching technology providers with technology receivers (EN), Interreg ADRION / BLUEBOOST “BOOSTing the innovation potential of the quadruple helix of Adriatic-Ionian traditional and emerging BLUE growth sectors clusters through an open source / knowledge sharing and community based approach”, LP PSP as partner (EN) | Quadruple-helix approach to clustering and community building targeted at the sector of blue economy (EN), Interreg ADRION / CreaTourES, “Promoting Creative Tourism through new Experiential and Sustainable routes”, LP PSP as partner (EN) | Acceleration Programme targeted at the Cultural and Creative Industries sector (CCI) (EN), ENI CBC MED INTECMED "Incubators for innovation and technology transfer in the Mediterranean", PP01 as partner (EN) | Mentorship programme;
Model of participation of local government to the mentorship programme. (EN), Interreg TOURBO "Boosting the transition pathway of MSMEs in tourism with green and digital transformation", PP01 as coordinator (EN) | Framework for integration of resilient tourism sector into local and regional policies;
Transition pathway of MSMEs by a quadruple-helix approach for a smart-green transformation. (EN), ENPI-CBC MED GOALS "Governance for Achieving Local Strategies for Tourism", PP01 as partner (EN) | Innovative organisational systems incorporating the “Total Quality Management” model to achieve balance between competitiveness and sustainability in tourism development (EN), ENPI CBC MED MED-QUAD "MEDiterranean QUadruple helix Approach to Digitalisation", PP02 and PP03 as partners (EN) | Toolkit for enhancing the institutional capacities of businesses, cities and universities of both shores of the Mediterranean to work together and reinforce their role as “catalysts” for fair and inclusive development.
Model of cross-border Living Labs for technological transfer and commercialisation of research results. (EN), ENPI CBC MED "INTERNISA network of synergies to increase the number of digitally skilled women employed in the ENI CBC MED territories via matching demand and supply in the labour market", PP02 as partner (EN) | Digital and offline training services in the agri-food, textile, tourism and financial sectors. (EN), ENPI CBC MED STS-Med "Small scale thermal solar district units for Mediterranean communities", PP02 and PP03 as partners (EN) | Model of opportunity creation for enabling SMEs to set up a full supply chain in the solar energy sector. (EN), ENI CBC MED GREENLAND "GREEN-skills for a sustainable development", PP03 as partner (EN) | Curricula providing marketable skills in the Green and Circular Economy. (EN), ENI CBC MED TECHLOG "Technological Transfer for Logistics Innovation in Mediterranean area", PP03 as partner (EN) | Model of Mediterranean Open Lab created to promote and share those initiatives within the (trans)port communities. (EN), ENI CBC MED MAIA-TAQA "Mobilizing new Areas of Investments And Together Aiming to increase Quality of life for All", PP03 as partner (EN) | Model of solution building for different identified barriers: lack of skills; lack of information; lack of regulation; lack of finance and for lack of specific matchmaking. (EN), UNICEF Generation of Innovation Leaders (GIL – جيل), PP04 as partner (EN) | Models to:
- accelerate implementation of pioneering solutions for sustainable development;
- build networks of new entrepreneurs who are able to create change and have a positive sustainable impact in their communities, countries, and region;
- showcase the achievements of new entrepreneurs as change-makers in their communities. (EN), ERASMUS+ DOEER "Digital and Open Education for equality-based resilience", PP05 as partner (EN) | Best practices, training and inclusion framework on the specific topics of:
- Equality in opportunities in Labour Market;
- Economic Equality;
- Social Equality;
- Gender Equality. (EN), ENI CBCMED IPMED "IP Capacities for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the MEDiterranean Region", PP06 as partner (EN) | Exemplar policy reviews aiming at aligning IP laws, regulations and practices in the participating countries with international, supporting growth and international competitiveness of SMEs. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 808 980.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 499 992.20

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 89.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

Other SPEEDUP's activities and results are addressed to contribute to different strategies/initiatives, among which the major ones are the following. > European Green Deal Strategy. The project integrates the Green Deal concepts internally, in the management of all its activities: i.e., promoting digital communication as preferred channel, reducing printing as much as possible and others. The promoted accelerator concept of the project includes the whole Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) spectrum, and Green and Circular Economy as well. Within the sustainability topics transferred to the mentored SMEs, the training modules will include those measures to ensure sustainability transversally to any kind of activity, such as energy conservation, waste management, resource efficiency, etc. > UN Sustainable Development Goal 8, related to entrepreneurship through promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic. By supporting the acceleration of SMEs starting up/innovation, the project integrates the principles and related good practices of gender equality and inclusion, which are considered pivotal aspects for competitiveness and economic sustainability. > New European Agenda for the Mediterranean. The SPEEDUP's partnership composition and objectives are built on close and continuous cooperation to ensure putting in place the actual and sustainable development of untapped potential in the partner Mediterranean project regions. The project network is set up to operate immediately and expand in time, with the ambition to continue providing support to new/innovative SMEs far beyond the project completion.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 002 - Enterprises supported by grants, Measurement unit:
RCO 001 - Enterprises supported (of which: micro, small, medium, large), Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Mediterranean Sea Basin (NEXT MED)

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-02

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

59 / 59 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

384 / 384 (100%)

Notes on the data

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EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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