Dr. Rodrigue Imad (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering) was proudly invited to represent the University of Balamand and the Faculty of Engineering in the Lebanon Innovate Soft-Landing Programme. The event was held from 17 to 21 November 2025, and took place in both France and Belgium. Dr. Imad joined a delegation from various top Lebanese universities and research centers participating in this international innovation initiative.

Lebanon Innovate is funded by the European Union and coordinated by Berytech, with the support of five implementing Lebanese and European innovation-specialized organizations. The Soft-Landing activity aimed to strengthen the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem by fostering collaboration, enhancing innovation capacity, and building sustainable partnerships between Lebanese and European innovation hubs.

During the visit, Dr. Imad and the Lebanese delegation took part in knowledge-exchange sessions at prominent innovation institutions in France, including IncubAlliance in Paris-Saclay and Grand Nancy Innovation in Nancy. The delegation later participated in the European Business Network (EBN) Techcamp in Nivelles, Belgium, an international event bringing together European experts in incubation and entrepreneurship to share best practices for building sustainable innovation and incubation models.

The programme concluded with an official meeting at the Lebanese Embassy in Brussels, where the delegation met with the Lebanese Ambassador to Belgium, Mr. Walid Haidar, and representatives from the European Commission, including experts from Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. Discussions focused on expanding the Lebanese participation in European programmes and exploring new avenues for cooperation.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud welcomed Dr. Imad’s participation in Lebanon Innovate, which reflects the Faculty of Engineering’s commitment to advancing innovation and fostering international collaboration.













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