Some 30 innovation partners from 15 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region are launching today in Athens THE NEXT SOCIETY, a community of change makers engaged in innovation and economic development, with the support of the European Commission, and will present their 4-year action plan to reinforce the innovation ecosystems in the Mediterranean.

THE NEXT SOCIETY is open to any stakeholders engaged in innovation and economic development. It gathers entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, NGOs, public and private innovation, research and economic development hubs from Europe and the Mediterranean countries.

It will implement concrete activities to remove the barriers to innovation and unleashing the creative potential of innovators in the Mediterranean, reinforce innovation ecosystems and fostering value creation as well as push forward concrete solutions from start-ups and clusters contributing to a shared value among the Mediterranean countries.

During the launch event, a comprehensive action plan supported by the European Commission, will be presented and will focus on:

– Policy frameworks: THE NEXT SOCIETY organises public-private dialogue and benchmarks the performance of Mediterranean innovation ecosystems in order to define and implement country strategic roadmaps to improve innovation support strategies.
– Start-up development: THE NEXT SOCIETY offers tailor made support to Mediterranean start-ups ready for international development composed of mentoring, training, introduction to investors and immersion into foreign markets.
– Cluster promotion and internationalisation: THE NEXT SOCIETY develops peer learning services for business and industrial clusters as well as foreign partnerships and guide them towards a Cluster Excellence management approach.
– Technology transfer offices (TTO): THE NEXT SOCIETY trains TTO managers like entrepreneurs and help them improve their services, market their portfolio of innovation and meet potential clients.

The launch event is co-hosted by ANIMA Investment Network and Enterprise Greece, and will gather around 150 selected participants from the Greek and the EU-Mediterranean ecosystems from 15 countries.

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Press release

Full programme of THE NEXT SOCIETY launch event

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