The MAIA-TAQA ENI CBC MED funded project will contribute to the creation of an enabling environment based on EU-MED networks, identify innovative and more needed services in the field of Resource Efficiency; improve the capacities of the supply and the demand of innovation; improve the technology level within the business relations North-South MED; create a more enabling environment for innovation in Resource Efficiency including financial instruments.

More specifically, the MAIA-TAQA project will focus on the following sectors: 

• Micro-grids and energy storage,
• Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)
• Solar thermal technologies
• Water sanitation and purification.

The project is pursuing the following specific objectives:

• to develop and define 6 new services in the field of sustainability (energy, water, resources) tor the SMEs from the Mediterranean Partner countries (MPC's);
• to reinforce the technical & management capacities of the labor force involved in the SMEs in the MPC's;
• to support the business environment through the improvement of the national and standard regulatory frameworks, the commercial technological transfer and the capacity of the SMEs to identity the innovation needs within the MED Countries.

MAIA-TAQA methodology will be applied to 3 Mediterranean pilot areas.

MAIA-TAQA involves 8 partners from 6 Mediterranean countries: 

• The Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving - CRES (Greece) – Coordinator
• The Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations - CEEBA (Egypt) 
• QUIPO SRL (Italy) 
• Jordan Chamber of Commerce- JOCC (Jordan) 
• Industrial Research Institute – IRI (Lebanon) 
• The Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport – AASTMT (Egypt) 
• The Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry – ASCAME (which General Secretariat is sitting in Spain) 
• UTILITALIA (Italy).

Partners will develop solutions for each barrier: capacity building programme (for lack of skills); innovation desk (for lack of information); guidelines (for lack of regulation); voucher (for lack of finance) and targeted B2B events (for lack of specific matchmaking). 

The main final beneficiaries are SMEs (especially from environment/utility/building sector) that can have a group of supporting instruments to overcome the barriers and reduce the risks to innovation.

As a relevant experience and example of good practice, MAIA-TAQA is expected to be highlighted by WEF – CAP in upcoming discussions and workshops related to good policy development.

More information about the project can be found here.

MAIA-TAQA developed a video that is available here.