New Opportunities to Support and Develop Youth Entrepreneurship in the Blue, Green, and Circular Economy with Palestinian Participation

SadaNews - The inaugural meeting of the YIELD project – a platform for launching entrepreneurship for young innovators in advanced technologies, was held from December 3 to 4, 2025 at the central library of the University of Ioannina in Arta, Greece. This project is funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED program, aimed at empowering youth and enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship in Mediterranean countries, including Palestine.

The total budget for the project is €1,001,483.50, of which €901,335.15 is contributed by the European Union, accounting for 90%. The YIELD project focuses on supporting youth aged 18-30 who wish to develop innovative solutions in the fields of blue economy, green economy, circular economy, and environmental innovation, with a special emphasis on advanced technologies that have a sustainable impact.

In Palestine, the Leaders International Foundation is responsible for implementing YIELD project activities, working to support young entrepreneurs and enhance their participation in the regional innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through specialized training programs, guidance and mentoring from experts, business model development, and strengthening regional and international partnerships, thus opening new horizons for Palestinian youth to engage in the knowledge-based economy and advanced technologies.

The long-term goal of the project is to support the establishment of at least five new startups in advanced technology fields, contributing to the creation of sustainable economic opportunities and enhancing the role of youth in economic development and innovation.

The YIELD project is being implemented in partnership between institutions from six countries, including Greece represented by the University of Ioannina and KiNNO organization, Italy represented by VITECO company, Jordan represented by the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Egypt represented by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, alongside Palestine represented by the Leaders International Foundation. The project also includes ten affiliated partners, enhancing the integration between academic expertise, entrepreneurial practices, and technological innovation. The Smart Computing and Knowledge Laboratory at the Department of Computer Science and Communications at the University of Ioannina is taking the lead role in the project.

The inaugural meeting confirmed the partners’ commitment to building a strong and sustainable support framework for youth entrepreneurship, with initial implementation steps agreed upon, including needs and regional challenges analysis, developing joint training tools, and preparing to launch the next open call for youth teams wishing to join the project.

The YIELD project aims to make a tangible impact on the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Euro-Mediterranean region by empowering the next generation of innovators, enhancing regional cooperation, and supporting solutions based on advanced technologies that have a sustainable economic and environmental impact.