The highly anticipated MEDWAYCAP Workshop & B2B Meeting entitled “Opportunities for economic and professional growth in the context of the circular economy through the valorisation of unconventional waters (NCW)” lived up to expectations, bringing together renowned experts, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, funding agencies, interface actors and government officials in a joint effort to explore the potential of non-conventional water resources and their role in achieving a sustainable circular economy, and to join efforts to boost the market and create economic opportunities.

The workshop was organized on three panels discussion: The first panel of the day focused on market development opportunities in the domain of NCW valorization. The second panel revolved around the promotion of solutions and best practices in NCW valorization and their implementation. The third panel was devoted to discussing the regulatory framework and access to financing for NCW valorization projects.

During the discussions, panelists emphasized the need for prudent water management, given the limited water resources in Tunisia. Various funding opportunities were presented to participants by AFD – Agence Française de Développement and Enda (micro-finance company in Tunisie), and the importance of seeking partnerships with technical and financial stakeholders was highlighted. The PPI4MED project, that aims to transfer research findings and technologies to the socio-economic sector, was showcased as an opportunity for young innovators. CONECT INTECH decrypted the Tunisian innovation ecosystem highlighting the remaining obstacles to its expansion. Green Climate Fund was presented by Mr. Chokri Mezghani (Ministry of Environment) including mechanisms and opportunities for the public and private sectors.

Following the panel discussions, the workshop provided a conducive environment for B2B networking sessions. Entrepreneurs, startups, and industry professionals were given the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, explore potential partnerships, and exchange knowledge and expertise.