EU South MED Matchmaking Event 2025 - Building Partnerships for the Future
From 16 to 18 June 2025, Cairo became the beating heart of international cluster collaboration. The EU–South MED Matchmaking Event 2025 gathered clusters and SMEs from across Europe and the South Mediterranean region — to spark cross-border cooperation, share knowledge, and drive sustainable industrial transformation
Held alongside Big 5 Construct Egypt and the Egypt Infrastructure and Water Expo, the event was organised by the European Commission via the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), in partnership with Euromed Clusters Forward (funded by the European Union), the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), and Enterprise Europe Network.
South MED Context: Innovation, Energy, and Growth
The South Mediterranean region is undergoing dynamic development. According to the EU-South MED Matchmaking Event Info Pack and Input Paper, countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco are spearheading cluster growth, with particularly active ecosystems in green tech, ICT, agri-food, and textiles. Egypt is increasingly seen as a regional hub for tech-driven sustainability, while Tunisia’s strong startup culture and Morocco’s growing industrial base are fuelling additional innovation.
The transition to clean energy is a cornerstone of regional development. The South MED region is projected to triple its renewable energy capacity by 2030. Flagship projects such as Egypt’s Benban Solar Park and Morocco’s Noor-Ouarzazate Complex illustrate the scale and ambition of this transformation. Algeria, meanwhile, is emerging as a key player in green hydrogen research, and Lebanon’s industrial clusters are striving for resilience amid economic pressure. Palestine continues to strengthen its engagement in regional cluster cooperation, with growing interest in sustainable construction and SME development.
Meanwhile, the EU’s engagement in the South MED region remains substantial. According to the EU–South MED Input Paper, around 40 Spanish clusters are actively collaborating with Southern Mediterranean countries, complemented by significant initiatives from French and Italian counterparts. These ties continue to drive innovation and cross-Mediterranean partnerships. Strong international engagement and personal meetings are key — as reflected by Federica Fernandez (Cluster Ecodomus, Italy), who observed:
“In this part of the world, nothing beats a personal meeting — looking each other in the eye, exchanging a few words, and sensing the energy. That’s how real partnerships begin,” reflected Federica Fernandez, Cluster Manager of Cluster Ecodomus and a Professor at the University of Palermo.
Opening Doors and Minds: Day One Begins
The event opened with a high-level plenary session, welcoming participants from 13 countries. Highlighting the spirit of the event, Mariella Masselink, Head of Unit for Industrial Forum, Alliances and Clusters at DG GROW, European Commission, set the tone: “Clusters are the agents of change; the drivers of innovation that help us transform industrial challenges into collaborative opportunities. Today, we're not just networking – we're building bridges between Europe and South Med, connecting businesses, technologies, and futures.”
In his opening remarks Giacomo Bogo, Programme Manager & IFIs Coordinator at EU Delegation to Egypt, underlined the strategic value of cooperation: “This is a collective journey, and your work makes a difference. Let's make today count and let's continue building a more connected, competitive and collaborative Mediterranean region.”
“The world has changed, and people are targeting to go more towards the concept of clustering, because it ensures efficiency — it saves time, it saves money… Clusters are being transformed into green industrial cities,” Dr. Khaled Abdel Azim, representing the Federation of Egyptian Industries, Egypt, underlined Egypt’s drive for efficiency and sustainability.
“We have created the opportunities, and now this is up to you to really grasp them and make the best out of them,” Martina Bacova, Project Adviser at the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EISMEA), opened with a clear call to action.
Finally, Sarra Boussaïdi, Project Manager at ANIMA Investment Network, Tunisia, introduced funding opportunities and captured the spirit of the event: “Tech Days and the ECCP Matchmaking are more than just an event — they are a catalyst for green innovation, digital transformation, and cross-Mediterranean business collaboration.”
Lessons from the Field: Insights on Cross-MED Collaboration
A dedicated panel discussion followed the opening, aimed at sharing real-world experiences and highlighting examples of business cooperation and value chain integration between EU and South MED countries.
Moderated by Sarra Boussaïdi (Euromed Cluster Forward Coordinator, ANIMA Investment Network, Tunisia), it featured first-hand insights from Jean-Christophe de Tauzia (Descartes Développement et Innovation, France), Skirmantė Baležentienė (Photovoltaic Industrial Technology Cluster – FETEK, Lithuania), and Noha Elbaky (Egyptian Renewable Energy Cluster, Egypt).
The panel opened with a powerful quote from Skirmantė Baležentienė, who captured the collaborative ambition of the participants: “We have a technology. They have the problem. We want to create a solution together.” Jean-Christophe de Tauzia reflected on the importance of strategic networking: “Meet as many people as possible in order to find the one that clicks — in how you envision the technology, and how we envision the end result.”
The panelists agreed that successful partnerships take time and commitment. Sarra Boussaïdi summed it up: “You need time, and you need lots of patience if you want to share something.”
Pitching Opportunities, Building Visibility
Before matchmaking meetings began, a dynamic pitching session gave participants the opportunity to present their organisations on stage. Clusters and SMEs introduced their needs, innovations and ideas — laying the groundwork for more targeted discussions during matchmaking.
Below you’ll find the presentation slides from both the EU and South MED delegations:
EU Delegation Pitching session PPT - download presentations
South MED delegation Pitching session - download presentations
Planned Connections, Real Collaboration
The ECCP Matchmaking sessions followed the pitching session and formed the operational core of the event. These structured, pre-arranged C2C, C2B, and B2B meetings enabled direct dialogue between organisations from Europe and the SouthMed region.
A total of 37 participants joined the matchmaking event — including clusters and businesses from France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia — resulting in 81 bilateral meetings. Of these, 76 were pre-scheduled and 5 were arranged ad hoc due to the high energy on-site. 100% of the scheduled meetings took place.
Notably, EU delegates were so fully booked that 34 additional meetings emerged among South MED participants, demonstrating strong regional momentum.
As Nouran Akrab, Fundraising Consultant at Giza Systems, Egypt, shared: “The matchmaking is super structured, and the organisers are incredibly helpful. I've already had three successful meetings. By connecting and understanding different ecosystems, we can create more meaningful and impactful partnerships.”
“It’s the right time and the right opportunity to be very honest about the challenges we face and find true solutions. I see a lot of potential in exchanging ideas and technologies — even ways of thinking about building,” Rodica Lupu, General Manager at TEC Cluster and CEO at Loop Operations, Romania, stressed the importance of open dialogue and collaboration.
Site Visits: Connecting Knowledge and Industry
To deepen understanding of the local innovation and industrial landscape, the agenda included visits to key Egyptian institutions:
Nile University cutting-edge research and academia–industry collaboration, where participants explored how R&D ecosystems support entrepreneurship and tech transfer.
The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport— a driver of regional talent and innovation. Discussions here highlighted Egypt’s pressing environmental and industrial challenges (e.g. water scarcity, construction waste) and the academy’s role in fostering decarbonisation and sustainability.
The Federation of Egyptian Industries — representing 120,000 companies across 19 chambers. FEI presented its project portfolio and hosted a roundtable with EU and South MED delegates on market readiness, business soft landing services, and strategic collaboration opportunities.
Showcasing Potential at Big 5 Construct Egypt & Egypt Infrastructure and Water Expo
The matchmaking event was strategically co-located with Big 5 Construct Egypt and the Egypt Infrastructure & Water Expo, significantly expanding its reach into Egypt’s booming industrial and infrastructure sectors. Big 5 Construct Egypt is Egypt’s most influential construction event, attracting over 20,000+ visitors, more than 350 exhibitors, and participants from around 20 countries, all gathered across a 20,000 m² exhibition space. Overlapping with Egypt Infrastructure & Water Expo, which hosted 6,000+ professionals, the combined forum provided unparalleled access to solutions in urban connectivity, environmental infrastructure, and smart city projects.
Several delegates from the EU–South MED group, whose business activities aligned closely with the expo themes, had the opportunity to pitch their solutions and projects on the Big 5 Talks Stage, showcasing their expertise and opening the door for commercial discussions with international attendees.
Vladimir Gumilar, Director at Construction Cluster of Slovenia, reflected: “There's a huge need for novel solutions in construction. They're all moving towards sustainable development, and ‘Green Building’ is the key phrase in their programs. I believe there are significant opportunities for European solutions here.”
Skirmantė Baležentienė, Cluster Manager at Photovoltaic Industrial Technology Cluster – FETEK, Lithuania, added: “Each and every person I spoke with here at Big 5 Construct was very open. Egypt and South MED are just starting their path toward sustainability — and we can complement this region with our innovations and practices.”
What Are the 4 Ingredients for Successful International Cooperation?
✔️ Personal meetings are crucial – Face-to-face engagement builds trust and accelerates cooperation. Throughout the event, from university tours to business meetings, this proved invaluable.
✔️ Diverse perspectives drive innovation – Bringing together organisations from across Europe and the South MED generated dynamic conversations and new approaches to shared challenges.
✔️ Patience and timely follow-up are essential – Several participants noted that lasting results require more than one meeting. Commitment to nurturing relationships beyond the event is key.
✔️ Digital platforms can facilitate global connections – From scheduling tools to virtual introductions, digital solutions ensured the matchmaking ran efficiently and inclusively to the satisfaction of all involved.
Looking Ahead: Building on Momentum
Hasaan Aboelata (Smart Electrical Industries, Egypt) underscored the long-term value of continuity. Reflecting on a previous collaboration with AMEC — the Spanish association of internationalised industrial companies — he noted how one success led naturally to another: “When we achieved our first success story with AMEC, it actually led us to a second success story. The key is to follow up, maintain those relationships, and continue working together.”
As the event drew to a close, Mohamed Taha El Ouaryachi (ATAREC, Morocco) captured a shared feeling by many — that the value of these encounters depends on what comes next: “I hope not to finish with only bye-bye and goodbye, but with something concrete.”
His words echoed a key takeaway: that timely follow-up is critical to transforming introductions into impact. With strong connections established, promising collaborations on the table, and future ECCP matchmaking events in the pipeline — the momentum is only just beginning.
Take a look at the event photo album to relive the best moments — and watch the video highlights to experience the energy first-hand:
