Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

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

Date of latest update: 2026-06-25

Description

Description (EN):

PROJECT TYPE: 1 - Thematic projects ~ MAIN INTERVENTION FIELD: 021. SME business development and internationalisation, including productive investments ~ SUMMARY: SheEmpower proposal stands as a beacon of opportunity within the NEXT MED program. With a focus on empowering women-led businesses, SheEmpower aims to address the joint challenges faced at a transnational level, such as limited access to resources, digitalization challenges, and the lack of entrepreneurs skills and commercialization support. SheEmpower build on three pillars Empowering Women’s Skills, Business and Innovation. The diverse and transnational consortium including chambers of commerce, universities, and business networks across Cyprus, Italy, Spain, France, Egypt and Lebanon, ensures a robust support system and proven capacity to deliver the goals. Empowering Women’s Skills through transformative change by providing entrepreneurship capacity-building, mentorship programs to enhance the competitiveness. Empowering Women’s Business through e-business and digital transformation capacity building, and SheEmpower MED e-Store creation which is dedicated to commercialize products and services. Empowering Women’s Innovation through create a network of women-led businesses, Services package to establish SMEs. Innovation Award, SheEmpower MED Network, SheEmpower MED Innovation Exhibition are tools to empower Women’s Innovation The expected results: 280 women enhancing their entrepreneurial skills, 140 female entrepreneurs receive the mentorship program; 140 women-led businesses receive Digital transformation program ; 140 female receive E-business training ; SheEmpower MED e-Store created, Up to 20 e-business and 10 women-led start-up established, Up to 100 jobs created, A network of 500 women entrepreneurs established. 21 women participate in the Business mission, Up to 20 female receive Services package to establish their own SMEs. The beneficiaries including female entrepreneurs, women-led businesses/start-up. By empowering women to become key economic actors, the project promotes inclusive economic growth, and create jobs across the MED region ~ KEEP KEYWORDS: Knowledge and technology transfer, SME and entrepreneurship

Expected Achievements (EN):

Management coordination Communication and dissemination CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To enhance the competitiveness of SMEs led by women through targeted support and capacity-building initiatives ~ EXPECTED RESULT: 10 women-led start-up established , 280 women-led businesses enhancing their skills, in innovation, digitalization, 140 female entrepreneurs receive mentorship program 140 women-led businesses, receive Digital transformation capacity building program . 140 female entrepreneurs receive E-business CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To enhance the competitiveness of SMEs led by women through targeted support and capacity-building initiatives ~ EXPECTED RESULT: 10 women-led start-up established , 280 women-led businesses enhancing their skills, in innovation, digitalization, 140 female entrepreneurs receive mentorship program 140 women-led businesses, receive Digital transformation capacity building program . 140 female entrepreneurs receive E-business CODE: SO2ER2 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To promote inclusive economic growth and job creation in the Mediterranean region ~ EXPECTED RESULT: -Up to 20 e-business led by women will be established -Up to 100 jobs created. Up to 20 female entrepreneurs receive Services package to establish their own SMEs . SheEmpower Innovation Award created

Project outputs: (1.1) Output 1.1: Project Management Plan(EN)
(1.2) Output 1.2: Project Monitoring and Evaluation and Risk Management Plan(EN)
(2.1) O.2.1 Communication Plan(EN)
(2.2) O.2.2 Promotional Material(EN)
(2.3) O.2.3 Reaching the Target Group(EN)
(2.4) O.2.4 Networking and Good Practices' Exchange(EN)
(3.1) Output 3.1. Training Programs for Female Entrepreneurs(EN)
(3.2) Output 3.2: Mentoring and Coaching Support(EN)
(4.1) O.4.1: Digital Transformation Capacity Building(EN)
(4.2) O.4.2 E-business skills capacity development and application(EN)
(4.3) O. 4.3. SheEmpower MED e-Store creation(EN)
(5.1) O.5.1 Promoting Guidance to access to finance(EN)
(5.2) O.5.2. Empowering Women’s Innovators(EN)
(5.3) Output 5.3. Fostering Cross-Border Collaboration and Regional Expansion Opportunities(EN)
Website: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/sheempower/about/

Thematic information

Education and training SME and entrepreneurship Knowledge and technology transfer

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: 021 SME business development and internationalisation, including productive investments

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: Αναπτυξιακή Εταιρεία Επαρχιών Λάρνακας – Αμμοχώστου

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 954401140 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Agiou Lazarou, 7040 Oroklini, Larnaca, Cyprus

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.anetel.com

Total budget: EUR 411 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 365 790.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 45 210.00

انيوديف الابتكار للاستثمار والتنمية

Name: انيوديف الابتكار للاستثمار والتنمية

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 719-347-815

Address: Elbehira street, 21523 Alexandria, Egypt

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://www.innodevgroup.org

Total budget: EUR 488 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 434 320.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 53 680.00

جرين لاين كونسلت

Name: جرين لاين كونسلت

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 883099641 | PROFIT MAKING: True ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Oqba Street -Al Mesaha Square, 12611 Dokki-Cairo, Egypt

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://greenlineconsult.org/

Total budget: EUR 570 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 507 300.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 62 700.00

INSME – Rete Internazionale per le Piccole e le Medie Imprese

Name: INSME – Rete Internazionale per le Piccole e le Medie Imprese

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 965280369 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Via Giosuè Carducci, 00187 Roma, Italy

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.insme.org

Total budget: EUR 247 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 219 830.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 27 170.00

Università degli Studi di Firenze

Name: Università degli Studi di Firenze

Department: Dipartimento di Architettura (DIDA)

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 01279680480 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Piazza San Marco, CAP 50121 Firenze, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.unifi.it

Total budget: EUR 207 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 184 230.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 770.00

Chambre de Commerce Italienne pour la France de Marseille

Name: Chambre de Commerce Italienne pour la France de Marseille

Department: Projets Européens et Coopération Transfrontalière

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 78285986200024 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: rue Henri Barbusse, 13001 Marseille, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.ccif-marseille.com

Total budget: EUR 253 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 225 615.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 27 885.00

غرفة التجارة والصناعة والزراعة في بيروت وجبل لبنان

Name: غرفة التجارة والصناعة والزراعة في بيروت وجبل لبنان

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 36/67 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: 1st Justinian Street, 1801 Beirut, Lebanon

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.ccib.org.lb

Total budget: EUR 317 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 282 130.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 34 870.00

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

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

Department: International, Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Digitalisation

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 997330042 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Plaza de la Contratación, 41004 Seville, Spain

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.camaradesevilla.com

Total budget: EUR 253 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 225 615.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 27 885.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

INNODEV Innovation for Investment and Development

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Partners and Projects info

Green Line Consult

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Partners and Projects info

The International Network for SMEs

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Partners and Projects info

University of Florence

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Partners and Projects info

Italian Chamber of Commerce for France in Marseille

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Partners and Projects info

Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Partners and Projects info

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

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Partners and Projects info

Larnaca and Famagusta Districts Development Agency

Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Project acronym: SheEmpower~A_T_1.2_0514

Project ID: 00031

Project start date: 2025-12-05

Project end date: 2028-06-04

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

TRACE: SMES TRANSITION FOR A EUROPEAN CIRCULAR TOURISM ECOSYSTEM (EISMEA.I – Innovation Ecosystems, SMP/ Entrepreneurship and Consumers I.2 – SMP/ COSME Pillar) (EN) | Training programme for SMEs for monitoring the sustainability performance. Development of sustainability program, marketing, and revenue management for tourism SMEs. The capcity building program of SheEmpoer will build on this output resules , adapted the training programs (EN), AccelerAction EU (Horizon EU) (EN) | The project entails the establishment of a virtual AccelerAction ecosystem that connects the dots between less advanced and more advanced EU start-up ecosystems, by offering a dedicated set of tools and the visibility of the stakeholders open to support promising start-ups wherever they may be situated in Europe and their service offer. The output to be exploited is the Virtual Ecosystem matchmaking EU map, that will remain online and working. Additionally, the project aims at creating a community of supportive accelerators, open to welcome and support start-ups from other ecosystems. INSME contributed to enhance network connectivity across EU innovation ecosystems by organising awareness events, conferences, workshops and providing policy recommendations, focusing on synergies between programmes, share of best practices, innovation promotion, networking, and female and social entrepreneurship. (EN), INTERNISA -ENI CBC MED (EN) | Women Digital Center to support trainings, development of training curricula
INTERNISA's development of training curricula, which is available offline, and the establishment of well-equipped Women Digital Centers, provide a robust infrastructure that can be directly utilized for this new project. These resources, especially the comprehensive training materials and the digital centers, offer an immediate platform for scaling up training programs tailored for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, the extensive database of women who have participated from various Lebanese locations under INTERNISA presents an invaluable resource for outreach and engagement in this project, ensuring a wide and diverse beneficiary base. (EN), WITH – Erasmus+ (EN) | project aims to
● Train young women in interpersonal skills and personal and social competencies to succeed as intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs and business owners in the tourism and hospitality sector.
● Support trainers in updating their knowledge and practices in line with labor market needs and international practices, and in acquiring new pedagogical methods to offer experiential learning opportunities.
● Introduce, promote and raise awareness about the concept of sustainable tourism and hospitality, thus contributing to training future professionals.
Promote demand-oriented and competency-based pathways and increase experiential learning opportunities through links between public and private vocational training institutions and the labor market
The SheEmpower Act.5.2.2 Services package to establish SMEs/Spin-offs and Act. 4.2.2. E-business training will build on this project outputs (EN), Trakya Foreign Trade Intelligence Center- Turkish Fund (EN) | Foreign Trade Intelligence Center, the aim of DTİM is to provide technical support to companies and SMEs operating in the region, those that have never exported, those that have just started exporting, those whose export activities have been interrupted, and those that want to increase their export capacity. Through an expert trained in foreign trade at the foreign trade intelligence center within the Kırklareli Chamber of Commerce and Industry, companies in the region are provided with information on foreign trade and support is provided to them in exporting or developing their exports. SheEmpower Act. 5.3.2. SheEmpower MED Innovation Exhibition and Act.5.2.2 Services package to establish SMEs/Spin-offs will upscale this project results (EN), “Wentre” project Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship - Erasmus+ (EN) | The project aims to Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship,
Develop cooperation between VET providers and entrepreneurial organisations focusing in the area of development and validation of enhanced digital competences for female entreprenures. Provide entrprnuership training program for female. SheEmpower will adapt the entrprnuership training program and use it. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 747 000.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 444 830.00

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 The SheEmpower proposal aligns with several key international and European strategies and initiatives, leveraging synergies to promote sustainable, inclusive economic growth and empower female entrepreneurs.
Synergy with UN Sustainable Development Goal 8, Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. SheEmpower enhances the competitiveness of women-led SMEs through capacity-building initiatives, contributing to inclusive economic growth in the Mediterranean. The project aims to create up to 100 jobs, particularly in Egypt, Turkey, and Lebanon, supporting full and productive employment
SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe, Help SMEs transition to more sustainable and digital business models. SheEmpower synergy with initiative though offering digital transformation training and e-business capacity development, aligning with the strategy’s emphasis on digitalization.
COSME - Europe’s Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Improve the competitiveness of SMEs through access to finance, markets, and support services. SheEmpower synergy with initiative through provides guidance to financing and marketing scheme and facilitate access to local and international markets through SheEmpower MED e-Store and business missions.
Start-Up and Scale-Up Initiative Create a better framework for start-ups to scale up. The synergy focus on support the establishment of up to 10 women-led start-ups and offers a services package to help female entrepreneurs establish SMEs or spin-offs.
The SheEmpower Innovation Award encourages innovation, and the project’s mentoring and coaching support help businesses scale up.
European Innovation Council (EIC), Support high-risk, high-impact ideas to turn science into new business opportunities. Synergies through SheEmpower Innovation Award and related support services encourage high-risk, high-impact innovations by women entrepreneurs.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
RCO 001 - Enterprises supported (of which: micro, small, medium, large), Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 001 - Jobs created in supported entities, Measurement unit:
RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, 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

2026-06

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)

392 / 392 (100%)

Notes on the data

There are discrepancies in this programme's financial data in keep.eu. Namely, in one or more cases, the sum of the project partners' budgets exceeds the total budget of the respective project. Interact is working with the Programme to correct those figures.

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Unleashing the Power of Female Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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