About this initiative
A competitive grant initiative mobilizing Lebanese university TTOs to address real public-sector challenges through applied research and digital innovation — in partnership with the Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence (MITAI).
- This initiative is funded by the European Union through the Lebanon Innovate Program in partnership with the Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence (MITAI).
- Lebanon Innovate, in collaboration with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence (MITAI), invites eligible Lebanese universities to apply for funding to address two priority public-sector challenges through applied research and digital innovation.
Each selected university will receive a grant of approximately €22,500 to lead a full innovation cycle — from problem research and concept development through to a validated digital prototype — mobilizing researchers, students, and recent graduates in the process.
Challenge 1| Water-Efficient Irrigation for Smallholder Farmers (Agrifood & ICT)
Design an intelligent, low-cost irrigation decision support system for smallholder farmers in Lebanon’s main agricultural regions — leveraging data analytics, AI, or IoT to deliver actionable, Arabic-language recommendations.
Challenge 2| Smart Energy Management for Public Institutions (Energy & ICT)
Build an analytics and recommendation platform helping public institutions such as municipalities optimize their mixed grid / generator / solar energy use — reducing costs and enabling evidence-based energy decisions.
Universities apply to one challenge only. Full challenge briefs are included in the RFP.
Who can apply?
- Lebanese universities that have participated in the Lebanon Innovate Program and benefited from its activities and support
- Must apply through an established or actively developing Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or equivalent innovation structure
- Must have a team of at least two faculty researchers with relevant sectoral or technical expertise in the challenge domain
- Must demonstrate institutional capacity to manage a grant and comply with EU narrative and financial reporting requirements
How to apply?
- Download the full RFP, read both challenge briefs carefully, and submit your application exclusively through the Lebanon Innovate portal before the deadline. Your submission must include:
- Completed application form
- Narrative proposal — methodology, team structure, work plan, and KPI commitments
- Budget breakdown aligned to EU eligible expenditure categories
- CVs of all named faculty researchers and a signed letter of commitment from university leadership
Ready to apply?
Download the full RFP and application form from the Lebanon Innovate portal to get started. Submit exclusively through the portal before the deadline.
