The EU co-financed project TECHLOG launches the Eastern Living Lab in Beirut in presence of partners and representatives from academia and trans(port) industry.  

In the framework of the 3rd TECHOLG Steering Committee meetings that took place in Beirut, Lebanon on 18 & 19 October 2022, the Chamber of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, partner in the project, organized the launch event of the Eastern Living Lab pertaining to the technological transfer for logistics innovation in Mediterranean area. The launch event and Steering Committee meetings took place in presence of the TECHLOG consortium partners from Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon as well as Lebanese and Egyptian stakeholders from port, logistics, innovation labs and academic institutions.

Mr. Rabih Sabra, Director General of Beirut Chamber welcomed the partners and participants form Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon and shed lights on the Chamber’s leading role in ENI CBC MED projects for years. He emphasized the relevance of TECHLOG since it will not only enhance the partnership between Northern and Southern shores of the Mediterranean Basin but will also give Lebanon and the port and transport community of Beirut an opportunity to upscale its workforce skills and to benefit from the technology transfer through the new living labs network.  

Speakers from the opening session included Mrs. Alessia Squarcella, Deputy Head of Cooperation from the EU Delegation in Lebanon, Dr. Kassem Rahhal, Advisor to the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Professors, Gianfranco Fancello & Patrizia Serra,  from University of Cagliari , the Lead Beneficiary of the TECHLOG project who presented the TECHLOG objectives and scope, and Dr. Sandra Haddad, Vice Dean at Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport  (AASTMT) who elaborated the TECHLOG eastern Living Lab’s aims and activities. The event was concluded by the signature of two cooperation agreements in innovation and training between the Egyptian Global Logistics and Ship & C.R.E.W and the AASTMT.

Mrs. Hana Nehme, Head of Development projects at Beirut Chamber opened the axes of discussions between the Lebanese stakeholders and the project partners on innovation challenges and needs, alignment of academic approach, and opportunities offered by the TECHLOG project.  The Lebanese stakeholders who attended the event, namely, Compagnie Maritime d'Affrètement (CMA) and Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM), International Navigation Chamber, the American University of Beirut, ESA business School, and American University of Technology.

The event was followed by a visit to the Chamber of Beirut headquarter where the trucks simulators lab was inaugurated in presence of TECHLOG partners. The Steering committee meetings started in the afternoon and the day of 19 October to evaluate the progress of working packages activities within the set action plan and timeline and the upcoming activities pertaining to TECHLOG living labs functionalities and digital platform.

“It is incredible to be able to see in person the hard work that our partners have done over the last year,” said
Concha Palacios, Director of Projects at the Escola Europea-Intermodal Transport.

“The innovative Living Labs and simulators now being developed will be indispensable to the growth of supply chains across the Mediterranean, and will be instrumental in making training offerings available to professionals and students alike. In addition, through this collaborative work with partners from all the shores of the Mediterranean, we can develop real, virtual and simulation tools that can be used in training in all the markets of the region”, added Palacios.

A magnificent Lebanese dinner at Beirut Marina Bay's waterfront brought all partners and guests together to enjoy authentic Mediterranean cuisine as the two-day conference came to an end.

Follow along for the launch of the TECHLOG Western Living Lab set to take place in November in Sfax, Tunisia following the successful launch of the Eastern Living Lab in Beirut.