The Switchers Open Eco-Innovation platform is active with the creation of innovative challenges seeking green and circular solutions. The aim of the platform is to help match companies and public institutions in search of green and circular business solutions with entrepreneur providers, using an open innovation approach.

STAND Up!, the EU-funded project under the ENI CBC Med Programme that is behind the creation of the platform, and Switchmed Programme, aim to help meet the sustainable innovation challenges faced by private and public companies in the textile and fashion industry and to provide business support organisations (BSOs) with the necessary tools to facilitate links between solution seekers and entrepreneurs.

The winning start-up with the best solution will be rewarded with a voucher of 20.000€ to develop and implement it and to be spent on prototyping (all the info about what the voucher includes can be found inside the challenges). Berytech is the enabler facilitating these challenges in Lebanon.

Find below the current challenges and basic information in Lebanon:

1. Developing a textiles stock management module

Goal: to design a stock management module that takes into account the numerous pieces of information associated with each item and uses it in a calculation, counting each variable as a coefficient. This solution would significantly assist in preventing unfavorable production decisions and reduces textile waste.

Companies: Warde (Wardé Establishments), since 1882 an established house of fabrics comprising no less than seven major outlets in Lebanon, four of which are located in the Greater Beirut area, and one in Saida.

Start-ups participation: The challenge is addressed to early and growth stage ventures or independent entrepreneurs in the textile and clothing sector that are legally constituted in one of the eligible areas from ENI CBC Med Programme in Lebanon. All selected ventures must be led by women (no age limit) and/or youth (up to 35 years old).

Deadline to submit your solution: 19/2/2023

Status: OPEN

2. Producing sustainable fabrics

Goal: To realize secure sustainable fabrics which La Brocante will use in upcycling the donated furniture to create purely recyclable materials in its workshops and produce a socially and environmentally sustainable product.

Companies: La Brocante, a company with a mission to collect abandoned and recycled materials to up-cycle them using the talents of People with difficulties (PWD) and transform them into functional art and vintage furniture.

Start-ups participation: The challenge is addressed to early and growth stage ventures or independent entrepreneurs in the textile and clothing sector that are legally constituted in one of the eligible areas from ENI CBC Med Programme in Lebanon. All selected ventures must be led by women (no age limit) and/or youth (up to 35 years old).

Deadline to submit your solution: 19/2/2023

Status: OPEN

More details on the challenges and all information to startups on the procedures for proposing solutions by registering on The Switchers platform HERE