Beirut, June 20, 2025 — The 2025 edition of the Béchara and Carmen Obegi Award for Creativity and Innovation, held on Friday, June 20 2025 at the François Bassil Auditorium on USJ’s Sports and Innovation Campus, showcased the entrepreneurial excellence of students from across faculties at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ).

Organized by the Entrepreneurship and Competencies Center (EC²), hosted by the Faculty of Economics, and in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Economics, the event was proudly sponsored by Banque BEMO.

A total of nine student teams representing faculties ranging from Dentistry, Sciences, Business Management, Education, Physiotherapy and Social Work, participated in this year’s challenge, presenting innovative solutions to societal and market needs after weeks of mentorship and preparation.

Opening the awards ceremony, Dr. Ursula El Hage, Director of EC², welcomed the attendees and highlighted the essence of the competition and the importance of structured mentorship and support for young innovators: "I strongly encourage all our students to participate in future editions of this competition. These initiatives provide a valuable opportunity to hone entrepreneurial skills, test ideas, and actively contribute to fostering a culture of innovation within our university."

Professor Jean-François Verne, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, emphasized the synergy between academic rigor and real-world innovation: “Theories of the entrepreneur, which are currently disseminated across many academic fields beyond economics, describe and analyze the actions undertaken by entrepreneurs in the real market.”

Mrs. Cynthia-Maria Ghobril Andrea, Director of Fondation USJ, expressed her deep gratitude to the Obegi family, highlighting the importance of this award, which perfectly matches what USJ has been building for a century and a half: “As part of USJ’s 150th anniversary, this award reflects everything our university has always aimed to support: excellence, innovation, and the strong ability to build a better future despite daily challenges.”

In his address, Fr. Salim Daccache s.j., Rector of USJ, congratulated the students for their efforts, affirming that their work embodies the university's mission to promote responsible and societal innovation: "Creativity is not a luxury or an optional extra, it is a necessity in our changing world. It allows us to rethink the present, bypass obstacles, and reinvent tools, ideas, and practices. But without innovation, creativity remains just a dream. To innovate is to dare to turn intuition into action. It means having the courage to experiment, to fail perhaps, but also to try again and succeed”.

The closing keynote was delivered by Dr. Riad Obegi, President of Banque BEMO, who emphasized the universality and accessibility of innovation: “Invention and creativity are synonymous with life, with our humanity. Innovation and creativity are not limited to a privileged few who win competitions. They are open to everyone. The conditions of invention are necessity, chance, dedication, and hope. You must keep your head up to catch the winds of chance, and be ready to put your hands in the soil to shape life” he shared, commending the dedication and vision of the young winners.

Following the pitches and jury deliberation, three student-led startups were awarded for their creativity, impact, and business potential:

• First Prize – Vital
  A wellness juice brand focused on natural detox drinks with social impact
  By Pamela Bou Fayssal – Faculty of Management and Economy (FGMZ)
• Second Prize – Dairy Dany
  A sustainable, innovative dairy alternative catering to health-conscious consumers
  By Rindala Zayour – Faculty of Sciences
• Third Prize – Prescripto
  A smart digital platform simplifying prescription management for patients and pharmacies
  By Christelle Abboud – Faculty of Dentistry

The event concluded with a networking cocktail reception, celebrating the students’ achievements and the support of mentors, jury members, and stakeholders.

With each edition, the Prix Béchara et Carmen Obegi for Creativity and Innovation continues to affirm its mission: empowering students to transform ideas into action, and passion into purpose.

For media inquiries or additional information, please contact the USJ Entrepreneurship and Competencies Center – EC² by email ec2@usj.edu.lb.

Read also: Dans sa cinquième édition : Le Prix Béchara et Carmen Obégi pour la créativité et l’innovation célèbre l'innovation étudiante à l'USJ