The Jerusalem Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (BCITE) at Al-Quds University hosted the introductory and validation workshop for the “Inno Tadweer: EcoHack+ for Driving Green and Circular Innovation in the West Bank” project at the University’s main campus. The workshop brought together a distinguished group of experts, academics, researchers, and representatives of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The project is being implemented over an 18-month period through a partnership between Al-Quds University, represented by BCITE, and the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), under the “Sawa II” and “Green West Bank” projects, with joint funding from the European Union and the Belgian State. It aims to support green and circular innovation and transform innovative ideas and solutions into prototypes and viable, scalable projects.
The workshop opened with a welcoming address by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Hanna Abdel Nour, followed by a presentation introducing the project delivered by Eng. Razan Habash, Project Manager of Sawa II at the Belgian Development Agency. Dr. Radwan Qasrawi, Director of BCITE, then provided a technical introduction to the project and its pathways. Green and Circular Economy Expert Eng. Najdeh Mustafa also presented the preliminary findings of the survey study on the key challenges facing the green and circular economy in the West Bank, explaining the assessment methodology and the criteria adopted to determine the priorities of sector-specific challenges.
The program included an interactive participatory validation session using the World Café methodology, organized into five specialized discussion stations. Participants moved between the stations to discuss and validate the identified sectoral challenges and link them to the pathways of the Inno Tadweer project. The session brought together experts in the green and circular economy, academics and researchers, as well as representatives of local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
The workshop aimed to collaboratively review and validate the preliminary findings of the study, identify the key challenges facing relevant sectors, and directly link them to the project’s pathways. This contributes to designing practical interventions that respond to actual needs and supports the transition from the idea-generation stage to technical validation, market fit, incubation, and financing.
The Inno Tadweer project operates across the northern, central, and southern areas of the West Bank through three main pathways. The first targets young people with innovative ideas at their early stages. The second supports the commercialization of applied research and prototypes and their transformation into viable solutions through applied research and development. The third focuses on helping micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises adopt cleaner production practices and circular processes and reduce waste.
During the project’s implementation period, 55 teams will be trained, and initial funding will be provided for 33 prototypes or green projects. The project will also develop at least two policy tools or guidelines to reduce regulatory uncertainty, while targeting an 85% inclusion rate for youth and women and integrating decent work principles throughout the various stages of the project.
The Inno Tadweer project comes as part of Al-Quds University’s efforts, through BCITE, to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, connect knowledge and scientific research with market and community needs, and support practical solutions that contribute to building a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy.
