
Duration:
03.07.2025 – 02.07.2028
03.07.2025 – 02.07.2028
SPEEDUP – EU-MED hubs to accelerate SMEs sustainable and competitive growth
The SPEEDUP project aims to accelerate the sustainable and competitive growth of SMEs across the Mediterranean by establishing a network of local acceleration hubs. These hubs will offer mentoring, training, and tailored support to foster ESG (environmental, social and governance)-driven, inclusive, and green entrepreneurship. The project builds on transnational cooperation and a joint Acceleration Programme to empower over 140 SMEs and support entrepreneurial ecosystems across seven MED countries.
The consortium is also supported by 7 associated partners including chambers of commerce, municipal authorities, and entrepreneurial associations.
Target groups:
Direct:
- New and existing SMEs, including startups led by disadvantaged or unemployed individuals
- Local and regional public authorities
- Higher education institutions and research organisations
- Business support organisations
Indirect:
- Associated partners and new local actors replicating the SPEEDUP methodology
- Wider SME and startup community in the Mediterranean region
- Members of local entrepreneurial ecosystems (e.g., trainers, investors, support services)
Objectives:
The project has two specific objectives, aligned with Interreg NEXT MED priority on SME competitiveness for the sustainable growth and competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) dedicated to making the Mediterranean region more competitive and smarter.
- To establish an international network of accelerating hubs in 7 Mediterranean countries where trained human resources deliver entrepreneurial support services.
- To create and implement a joint ESG-oriented Acceleration Programme that enhances sustainable growth and competitiveness among SMEs.
Outputs:
- A transnational network of Accelerating hubs is created where The SPEEDUP network is set up in 7 main local hubs in Greece, Spain, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon Cyprus and Tunisia are initiated and connected transnationally.
- A definition of the Acceleration entrepreneurial mission is established to integrate the innovation resulting from the best practices collected.
- Human resources operating the networked acceleration hubs are trained to operate the SPEEDUP network, to promote it and to peer train other staff.
- Developed guidelines on participatory approaches for networked Accelerating hubs.
- An acceleration programme is created including activities, creation of materials to support mentoring and the selection of start-ups.
- Networked SPEEDUP hubs deliver information to target groups. To catch the SME’s interest in the project Acceleration programme and utilize concept of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) spectrum; Green and Circular Economy.
- The networked local hubs organize the pilot of the Acceleration programme.
- Empowerment of SMEs’ starting up/development. The project creates tools to use in advocacy initiatives: final analysis of results, sound continuation scenarios, sustainability and policy papers.
- The staff of the networked hubs will monitor the progress of the development of the innovation SMEs completing the Acceleration programme.
- Advocacy and follow-up leading up to a key strategic document, such as the Policy recommendation paper, scenarios of follow-up exploitation, the project sustainability plan.
- For promotion, dissemination and events, information and awareness raising campaigns are created by the local hubs.
Project Partners:
SPEEDUP brings together partners from 7 Mediterranean countries: Greece, Spain, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Tunisia.
The exact project partners are:
- Patras Science Park (Coordinator, Greece)
- Cámara Oficial de Comercio, Industria
- Servicios y Navegaciónde Sevilla (Spain)
- Al-Balqa Applied University (Jordan)
- Arab Academy for Science and Technology (Egypt)
- INJAZ Lebanon (Lebanon)
- COMCY – Centre for Competence Development Cyprus (Cyprus)
- The Chamber of Commerce of Tunis (Tunisia)
proud member of