A showcase of student innovation across USJ faculties

The CCIAS Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award 2026, organized in collaboration between Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Sidon and South Lebanon (CCIAS), brought together student entrepreneurs from across disciplines in a final pitching session held online.

The event provided a focused platform for project pitching, allowing finalists to present their ventures directly to a multidisciplinary jury and engage in a rigorous evaluation process.

A cross-disciplinary entrepreneurial dynamic

The competition highlighted the diversity of innovation emerging from USJ, with six finalist teams representing multiple faculties including Engineering, Business, Sciences, and Dentistry .

Each team presented a venture addressing real-world challenges:

• SafeDose (ESIB – School of Engineering)
• Next Level (School of Business – USJ South Lebanon)
• Dentrain (Faculty of Dentistry)
• Pathfinder (Faculty of Sciences – USJ South Lebanon)
• EcoFibra (Faculty of Sciences)
• PureDrop (Faculty of Sciences – USJ South Lebanon)

A jury bridging academia and industry

The evaluation was conducted by a jury composed of professionals from both institutional and entrepreneurial ecosystems, including:

• Georges Salloum, CEO of i-Stay
• Rana Sayed, Development Consultant at CCIAS
• Dina Sidani, Director of USJ South Campus
• Ingrid Salloum, Cluster Manager at Berytech

Their contribution ensured a rigorous assessment grounded in feasibility, impact, and scalability, while also providing valuable feedback to participants.

Recognition of excellence and impact-driven innovation

At the conclusion of the pitching session, two projects were picked as winners for cash prizes and incubation at Berytech:

• 1st Place – Next Level
  Empowering autistic athletes through sensory-aware training and modified competitions that prioritize social inclusion, physical development, and the joy of the game.
• 2nd Place – EcoFibra
  A project that transforms banana stems into natural textile fibers for eco-friendly, durable, and biodegradable fabrics.

In addition to the main awards, selected projects were identified for further development opportunities through an incubation program at Berytech:

• Pathfinder
• PureDrop
• SafeDose

More than a competitive milestone, the event functioned as a validation stage within a broader entrepreneurial journey. Participants were able to:

• Test the robustness of their concepts
• Engage with expert feedback
• Benchmark their ideas against peers
• Strengthen their pitching and communication skills

Within this framework, the competition contributes to reinforcing USJ’s commitment to experiential learning and innovation-driven employability.

A collaborative ecosystem approach

The initiative also highlights the importance of partnerships between academia and economic actors. Through its collaboration with CCIAS and ecosystem stakeholders such as Berytech, USJ continues to position student entrepreneurship within a regional development and innovation ecosystem, connecting ideas to real opportunities.