CERES

 

https://www.interregnextmed.eu/projects/ceres

 

About – Centers of Excellence for Resilient Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Solutions

Across the Mediterranean, MSMEs face challenges in reliable access to energy, digitalization, and innovation due to weak infrastructure and limited technical skills, especially in rural and underserved areas. CERESwill tackle these issues by creating Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Greece, Lebanon and Palestine to link research with real-world implementation. These hubs will support MSME competitiveness in green and digital transitions, foster entrepreneurship, and offer sustainable solutions across sectors, from water purification to food cold chains.

DURATION 

Start Date: 08/08/2025 

End Date: 07/08/2028

 

Project Partners

 Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (Lead Partner)

 SPANISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE INTERNATIONALISATION AND INNOVATION OF SOLAR COMPANIES (PP1)

 Trama TecnoAmbiental S.L. (PP2)

 An-Najah National University (PP3)

 The Lebanese Solar Energy Society (PP4)

 Entrepreneurship Support Foundation (PP5)

 

Why the project matters

MSMEs across the Mediterranean basin face major challenges in securing stable energy supplies, advancing digitalization, and driving innovation, due to weak infrastructure, limited technical expertise, and inadequate operational support. These challenges are especially common in rural and built environments, where power outages and maintenance problems affect essential services and reduce competitiveness. Public entities also struggle with the high cost of maintaining installed solutions, reducing their long-term use. These gaps directly affect cross-sectoral facilities, from water purification to food cold chains, and threaten sustainable growth and socioeconomic integration across the region.

What it aims to achieve

  • To support sustainable growth and competitiveness of MSMEs through the engagement of young graduates, start-ups, and enterprises in the green and digital transition.
  • To establish Centres of Excellence (CoEs) within existing structures and programmes as platforms for innovation and capacity building.
  • To strengthen and support transnational networks, clusters, consortia, and value chains in the energy sector to advance cooperation and promote sustainability in line with Sustainable Development Goals and New European Bauhaus principles.

 

Expected change

Enhanced technical and entrepreneurial capacities among young graduates and newly established MSMEs in the energy sector, enabling them to launch new businesses or strengthen existing ones and offer innovative, locally impactful energy solutions.

Improved cooperation and knowledge exchange across transnational networks, clusters, and consortia in the Mediterranean energy sector, supporting the development of sustainable value chains.

 

 

What the project delivers

  • 3 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) launched in Greece, Lebanon, and Palestine, featuring ICT-equipped training hubs for renewable energy skills, innovation, and transnational collaboration
  • 15 Micro-credential Programmes delivered through CoEs, training 135+ young professionals in advanced energy technologies and business development aligned with EU standards.
  • 10 solar-powered pilot projects deployed across three countries, showcasing innovations like clean water systems, Electric Vehicles chargers, cold storage, and solar kiosks to improve energy access and boost MSME competitiveness.
  • Collaborative digital supervisory platform developed to remotely monitor and manage energy systems, enabling CoEs and MSMEs to optimize performance, reduce maintenance costs, and improve reliability.
  • 3 Living Labs established as interactive spaces for co-developing and testing energy solutions, fostering entrepreneurship and accelerating innovation uptake.

Who benefits

  • 150 students, young graduates, and engineers trained in renewable energy technologies with at least 55 new high-qualified jobs expected.
  • 10 MSMEs Involved in constructing and commercializing solar-powered solutions.
  • 40 energy companies and organisations involved in the formation of 2 transnational energy clusters, fostering innovation, internationalisation, and long-term collaboration.
  • Public institutions and local authorities (e.g.: schools, agri-fisheries, municipalities) benefiting from 10 solar-powered pilot projects—receiving clean energy solutions.
    1000+ local residents directly benefiting from improved services and infrastructure, with better access to water, energy, and public lighting.
  • Researchers and innovation professionals engaged in Living Labs and CoEs, strengthening research-business collaboration.

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