The Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) has signed 12 new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading organisations across Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa. These agreements set a shared framework for cooperation to enhance expertise, foster inclusive innovation, and strengthen resilient ecosystems within the Euro-Mediterranean and African regions.
Each MoU reflects a joint commitment to:
- Support inclusive and transparent social and economic development
- Promote knowledge exchange, capacity building, and joint research
- Develop co-funded programs, projects, and policy dialogue
- Strengthen cultural and creative economies
- Foster green transition and digital transformation
The collaborations are grounded in the principle of working together where and when feasible, with the goal of expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation from a global, sustainable perspective. All agreements were formally signed by Professor Rym Ayadi, EMEA’s Founder and President.
The 12 new partner organisations:
- Association of Organizations of Mediterranean Businesswomen (AFAEMME), represented by Maria Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President – A leading federation of businesswomen’s associations in the Mediterranean region, promoting gender equality, economic empowerment, and female entrepreneurship through advocacy, research, and regional cooperation.
- Atlas Azawan (Morocco), represented by Mohamed El Khataby, President – A non-profit association dedicated to preserving and promoting musical heritage and culture through festivals, artistic education, and creative industries, contributing to cultural sustainability and local development.
- CIDCO – Creative Industries Development Company (Egypt), represented by Hany Barakat, Chairman – A company dedicated to empowering creatives through innovation, quality development services, and strategic marketing. CIDCO supports the creative sector by delivering high-standard solutions that open access to both local and international markets.
- Creative Business Network (Denmark), represented by Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning, Founder and Managing Director – A global foundation supporting creative entrepreneurs and SMEs through flagship initiatives such as the Creative Business Cup and MyCreativeNetworks.
- Creative Industry Summit (Egypt), represented by Mai Salama, Founding Partner – A vibrant platform fuelling the creative economy in the MENA region, fostering collaboration among innovators, creatives, and business leaders.
- Culture Funding Watch (Tunisia), represented by Ouafa Belgacem, Founder and CEO – A regional leader in mapping and mobilizing funding opportunities for culture and creative industries across the MENA region.
- Evolutionary Archetypes Consulting (Spain), represented by Nektarios Baziotis, Co-Founder and CTO – A Barcelona-based consultancy innovating in EdTech, science communication, and policy narratives for EU-funded initiatives.
- Investors of the Mediterranean (MedAngels), represented by Tarek El-Kady, Founder – A cross-border network of angel investors and ecosystem actors supporting startups across the Mediterranean through co-investment, mentoring, and regional deal flow platforms.
- KEMET Hub (Egypt), represented by Ahmed Mamdouh, CEO and Founder – A creative and entrepreneurial hub based in Alexandria, dedicated to supporting youth and sustainable startups in Egypt and the region.
- Materahub (Italy), represented by Luigi Martulli, President – A European accelerator for cultural and creative industries, active in innovation, training, EU-funded collaboration, and cross-sector development.
- RedStart Tunisia, represented by Douja Gharbi, Co-Founder and CEO – A national incubator and accelerator promoting green entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and innovative financing in Tunisia.
- Techne Global (Egypt), represented by Tarek El-Kady, Founder – The organiser of Techne Summit and Innovation Week, fostering startup, corporate, and investor connections across the Mediterranean and beyond.
These partnerships will contribute to the implementation and impact of key EMEA initiatives, including:
- The Alliance for the Creative Mediterranean, launched under the EU-funded CREACT4MED project, to promote sustainable growth of cultural and creative industries across the Southern Mediterranean
- Strategic frameworks such as the Sustainable Transformative Alliance, which aligns with the MoUs’ emphasis on inclusive, green development and transdisciplinary cooperation
- EMEA’s contributions to sustainability and inclusive transformation, including participation in EU funded projects such as REFOREST – supporting agroforestry and ecological resilience – and the TRIS Dashboard, which promotes development grounded in Transparency, Responsibility, Inclusion, and Sustainability
Through these MoUs, EMEA and its partners affirm their shared vision of building inclusive, green, and creative futures across the Mediterranean and Africa.
