Rotterdam, 26 May 2025 – The MED-GEM Network convened its fourth Industry Advisory Board (IAB) in Rotterdam to shape the future of clean energy cooperation across the Mediterranean. Hosted just steps from Europe’s largest port, the meeting brought together public and private actors from across the Southern Neighbourhood to align strategies, investment priorities, and regulatory innovations in support of the region’s green transition.

Opening the session, Frank Wouters, MED-GEM’s director, highlighted the urgency of transitioning from policy dialogue to project acceleration. “We’re entering the operational phase. Investment must now follow ambition.” This shift was echoed by Milou Beerepoot from the European Commission’s new DG MENA, who introduced the forthcoming New Pact for the Mediterranean, expected in September 2025. She reaffirmed that energy will be one of its central pillars and that DG MENA is ready to elevate regional partnerships, including with the Gulf countries.

Matthieu Craye of DG ENER presented the soon-to-be-launched T-MED Platform, designed to mobilise between €8 and €10 billion in investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and clean technologies. The platform will operate as a regional investment coordination mechanism, supporting project pipelines across five strategic axes:

1. Integration of renewable energy into power systems
2. Development of green hydrogen and midstream infrastructure
3. Manufacturing of clean tech equipment
4. Skills development for energy and hydrogen sectors
5. Support to regulatory and policy reform

Dr Mustapha Taoumi, key expert of MED-GEM Network and Samir Belhandoria presented the outcomes of the regional finance scoping study, revealing a deep gap between renewable energy potential and available investment. Two high-potential prototype projects were shared:

• Scatec (Egypt): a retrofitted ammonia facility backed by concessional finance and a public off-taker
• TotalEren (Morocco): a 200,000-ton green ammonia project using mutualized infrastructure and private equity

The experts proposed launching a regional blended finance framework, strengthening local banks, and creating a toolkit of standardized project documentation to support developers and financiers.

The most concrete innovation of the day was the official launch of EDU Hub — a curated, modular e-learning platform aggregating hydrogen and clean tech training courses for students, engineers, policymakers, and industry alike. Presented by Raya Verniers and Toufic Rizkallah, https://medgem-eduhub.eu already hosts:

• +60 curated courses (90% free)
• +20 partner institutions (EU-funded and regional providers)
• Filtering by level, format, topic and certification availability