From Research to Jobs : CIHEAM Secretary General Teodoro Miano calls for stronger bridges between science, business, and territories in the Mediterranean

From 13 to 15 October 2025, Malta hosted the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) high-level conference “From Research to Business: Turning Knowledge into Jobs, Innovation and Growth”, supported by the German Development Cooperation. The event gathered policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and regional institutions to discuss how to transform scientific knowledge into a driver of employment, innovation, and sustainable development in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Speaking during the panel “Emerging Pathways: Regional Cooperation for Research to Business”, CIHEAM Secretary General Teodoro Miano addressed the structural challenges that continue to hinder the valorisation of research in the region — from weak connections between universities and enterprises to fragmented innovation ecosystems and limited access to regional funding mechanisms.

“We must build a true culture of scientific valorisation in the Mediterranean,” he stated. “This means supporting research from the laboratory to the market, but also linking knowledge to territories, to young entrepreneurs and to rural cooperatives that are at the forefront of local innovation.”

Mr. Miano highlighted that the Mediterranean holds exceptional scientific and human potential, yet the bridge between knowledge production and economic value creation remains too fragile. Drawing on initiatives such as PRIMA, Horizon Europe, and CIHEAM’s projects on agri-food systems, water management, and green transition, he called for an integrated approach connecting research, education, entrepreneurship, and public policy.

The conference showcased several successful cases of research-driven entrepreneurship in health, renewable energy, and sustainable resource management, demonstrating that innovation can be a cornerstone of prosperity and cohesion in the region—provided that public and private actors align their efforts to turn knowledge into tangible impact.

In conclusion, Mr. Miano urged that scientific cooperation and inclusive innovation be placed at the heart of the renewed Euro-Mediterranean partnership, as key pillars for building a more competitive, sustainable, and united regional future.