Call for a Spanish Hosting Organization- EuroMed Clusters Forward - CCM8

About Berytech:

Berytech is a leading organization in the Entrepreneurial Eco-system in Lebanon, that aims to provide a conducive environment for the creation and development of startups, through incubation, business support, counseling, funding, networking, and company hosting, hence taking part in the economic revival of the country, participating in wealth and job creation, and retaining graduates and high-level skills in Lebanon.

About Euromed Clusters Forward:

ECF is a 4-year project that aims at establishing and improving clusters legal policies, strengthening clusters capacity & regional cooperation, and strengthening regional value chains. Berytech is the implementing partner of ECF in Lebanon, that is funded by the European Union and coordinated by Anima Investment Network with 3 implementing partners and 9 affiliates from the Euromed region.

About Cluster Connect Mission (CCM):

Cluster Connect is a short-term exchange activity between clusters and support organizations from similar or different industrial ecosystems. It involves twinning, matchmaking and knowledge sharing activities, and peer learning between a South Mediterranean cluster – the Visitor and a host organization from South Mediterranean and European countries – the Host.

We are seeking well established EU clusters/ support organizations to support the organization and design and deliver capacity building regarding methodologies and approaches to export promotion, focusing on sustainable funding and export opportunities. The organization has a particular interest in improving its skills concerning acquiring financial support and facilitation of trade missions and exhibitions.

Support will be given to the Cluster manager and 2 staff members from the Egyptian export promoting organization for 4 months virtually and in Spain.

Cluster background information:

The Export Promoting organization is a non-profit organization, providing services to 1,890 member companies, with each company having to pay for membership annually. The organization also serves as an advisory body, providing studies on potential markets and export opportunities. The organization's strategy is focused on expanding into new markets in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The organization emphasized the importance of networking and collaboration, with a focus on product quality and certification to access these new markets. The organization also assists companies in defining requirements for new products and technologies.

The CCM will equip the cluster with the skills and capacity to:

• Acquire financial support for overseas trade missions and exhibitions
• Improve methodologies and approaches to export promotion

Component 1: Fundraising strategies for overseas trade missions & exhibitions

• Conduct a benchmark comparing funding strategies for export promotion activities of comparable organizations. 
• Propose recommendations for new funding strategies.
• Develop an implementation plan for the proposed funding strategy. Provide step-by-step guidelines, timelines, and resource requirements for integration into current operations.

Component 2: Export promotion tools

• Conduct a benchmark comparing methodologies and approaches for export promotion activities of comparable organizations.
• Propose suggestions for further improvement.
• Develop an implementation plan for the proposed export strategy. Provide step-by-step guidelines, timelines, and resource requirements for integration into current operations.

Component 3: Travel mission:

• Organize and implement the travel mission of up to 3 cluster staff/members to Spain for a maximum of 5 days.

• Support materials: templates, presentation, and resources for participants to use during and after the workshops.
• Agenda: for activities of each of the 3 components including virtual and in-person training, workshops, consultancy services, benchmarking studies and visits for 4 months.
• Attendance: attendance sheet of the visitor to different activities.
• Travel mission: booking and invoices of flight tickets, accommodation, and other costs of all travelling participants.
• Implementation plan: concerning the fundraising strategy for overseas activities.
• Benchmark report: on export promotion tools.
• Visit reports: report on the visits organized and their outcomes.
• Activity report: for participating in an exhibition/fair.
• Final report: sessions given and final outcomes of the CCM submitted to Berytech.

• The CCM will be implemented from the beginning of February 2025 until the end of May 2025.
• The travel mission of up to 3 cluster staff/members to the host country shall occur within the mission timeline.
• The final report should be delivered by June 15th  , 2025 at the latest.

• Support organization or service provider in export promotion.
• Experience in securing grants, fundraising, or financial assistance.
• Familiarity with public and private funding sources.
• Track record in fostering partnerships and initiating/implementing joint projects with other clusters/SMEs.
• Track record in playing leading roles in exhibitions and fairs.
• Experience in international business development, or trade promotion.
• Experience in designing and implementing capacity building programs.