SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Lebanese American University (LAU) actively advances Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure through research-driven innovation, academic–industry collaboration, and the development of technology-based learning and entrepreneurship ecosystems. By leveraging its multidisciplinary expertise across engineering, business, health sciences, and social sciences, LAU fosters an environment where research outcomes are transformed into real-world industrial solutions.

Through strategic initiatives led by the LAU Industrial Hub, the Fouad Makhzoumi Innovation Center (FMIC), and the Center for Innovative Learning (CIL), the university strengthens Lebanon’s innovation infrastructure and industrial competitiveness. These platforms provide pathways for students, faculty, and industry partners to collaborate on cutting-edge technologies, sustainable product design, and industrial modernization, directly contributing to inclusive and sustainable industrialization, technological advancement, and resilient infrastructure, as envisioned by SDG 9.

The following table presents LAU’s academic and research indicators related to innovation and industrial engagement, including research income from industry, academic staff distribution across disciplines, and the university’s research partnerships supporting sustainable industrial development:

Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists

In March 2024, LAU’s Department of Economics signed an MoU with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) to advance Lebanon’s industrial competitiveness through research, innovation, and job creation. The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between academia and industry to align economic policy research with private-sector needs and support student engagement in applied industrial projects.

The partnership enables joint workshops, research grants, and policy analysis initiatives that promote sustainable economic growth and industrial resilience. By integrating academic expertise with market applications, this MoU exemplifies cross-sectoral cooperation at the core of SDG 9, strengthening national innovation capacity and bridging the gap between research and real-world industrial development.

LAU Industrial Hub (LAUIH)

The LAU Industrial Hub is the university’s leading innovation and applied research platform that bridges academia and industry to foster technology transfer, skill development, and sustainable industrial solutions. It provides a space for students and researchers to collaborate with private and public sector partners on real-world challenges, offering prototyping, digital fabrication, and advanced industrial training programs. Through strategic partnerships with local and international industries, the Hub supports Lebanon’s innovation ecosystem and enhances employability by integrating technical education with industry demand.
The Hub’s initiatives directly contribute to SDG 9 by promoting sustainable industrialization, resilient infrastructure, and inclusive innovation, ensuring that LAU remains a national leader in applied engineering, manufacturing innovation, and digital transformation.

• The LAU Industrial Hub Partners with Iteration 360

In September 2023, the LAU Industrial Hub announced a strategic partnership with Iteration 360, supported by Microsoft, to empower LAU students with globally recognized certifications in Microsoft Dynamics and Power Tools. The collaboration provides hands-on internships and industry exposure, equipping students with practical digital skills that meet Lebanon’s emerging tech-sector needs.

This initiative exemplifies the Hub’s mission to strengthen collaboration between the university and industry, expand workforce readiness, and foster innovation-driven education. By integrating academic learning with industrial application, the program contributes directly to the “Industry–Innovation” pillar of SDG 9, promoting technological capacity and sustainable employment in the digital economy.

• The LAU Industrial Hub Advisory Council Holds its Inaugural Meeting

In January 2024, the LAU Industrial Hub convened its first Advisory Council, bringing together industry experts, entrepreneurs, and academic leaders to align the Hub’s research and training programs with real-world market needs. The Council will guide strategy development, prioritize innovation areas, and enhance collaboration across industrial sectors.

The meeting institutionalized an integrated platform for academia–industry dialogue and innovation governance. This structural step demonstrates how LAU is creating long-term partnerships that generate industry-based research income, support STEM innovation, and foster a resilient industrial ecosystem—key drivers of SDG 9 implementation.

Fouad Makhzoumi Innovation Center (FMIC)

The Fouad Makhzoumi Innovation Center (FMIC) is LAU’s entrepreneurship and innovation engine, driving the university’s efforts to convert ideas into impactful ventures. The Center offers mentorship, incubation programs, seed funding, and networking opportunities that connect students and faculty innovators with industry experts and investors. Its ecosystem accelerates technology-based startups and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration between the Schools of Engineering, Business, and Architecture.
FMIC advances SDG 9 by nurturing innovation infrastructure, promoting entrepreneurial education, and strengthening industrial research collaboration, ensuring that the university’s creative and technical output supports Lebanon’s innovation-driven economy.

• LAU Startups Gain a Head Start

In August 2024, the FMIC supported twelve promising startup ideas from LAU students and alumni, offering mentorship, training, and funding opportunities through its accelerator programs. These projects covered diverse fields including renewable energy, health tech, digital design, and circular economy innovations.

The initiative highlights LAU’s commitment to fostering innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurial mindsets among youth. By facilitating the translation of academic research into market solutions, FMIC directly contributes to SDG 9 by enhancing industrial innovation capacity, supporting sustainable business creation, and promoting inclusive economic growth through technological entrepreneurship.

• “Innovatus” – Annual Innovation Forum

The Innovatus Forum, hosted by FMIC in 2023, brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss emerging technologies and opportunities for Lebanon’s knowledge economy. The event featured startup showcases, networking sessions, and panel discussions with national and regional innovation leaders.

Through Innovatus, FMIC reinforces LAU’s role as a catalyst for research-driven entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration. It aligns with SDG 9 by building institutional partnerships for innovation, disseminating best practices, and strengthening the connection between academic creativity and industrial competitiveness.

Center for Innovative Learning (CIL)

The Center for Innovative Learning (CIL) enhances LAU’s educational infrastructure by empowering faculty and students with the skills and tools to integrate technology, research, and innovation in teaching. CIL promotes active and digital learning strategies, supports the creation of interdisciplinary courses, and strengthens the university’s learning ecosystem.
By upgrading educational infrastructure and enabling digital transformation in higher education, the CIL contributes to SDG 9 through innovation in learning environments, capacity building, and knowledge transfer, laying the foundation for sustainable industrial and societal advancement.

• Inaugural Research Day Celebrates LAU’s Growing Scholarly Capital

In May 2023, LAU launched its first University Research Day, with CIL contributing to the event’s design and faculty engagement. The platform highlighted research excellence and innovation across LAU’s disciplines, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation-led teaching methods.

This initiative aligns with SDG 9 by fostering a culture of research-based innovation, showcasing the university’s contribution to Lebanon’s knowledge infrastructure, and stimulating stronger linkages between research, technology, and education.

• “AI in Education” Faculty Development Program

CIL launched the AI in Education initiative in 2024 to train faculty on integrating artificial intelligence into pedagogy responsibly and effectively. The program offers practical guidelines, ethical frameworks, and toolkits to enhance digital teaching and learning innovation.

SOE and Synopsys Collaboration Forges Ahead

In July 2023 the School of Engineering secured a collaboration with Synopsys (a global tech firm) which includes a new course, software licenses donation, and several industry-led initiatives. It exemplifies STEM-industry research and resource support, contributing to innovation income and infrastructure.

Research and Development Partnerships – SOE

LAU’s School of Engineering web page details formal R&D partnerships with industry, business and government — companies such as BMW Group, CERN, and others are listed. This demonstrates institutional infrastructure and pathways for industry-funded research income.

LAU Still Top Nationwide in Business/Economics and Social Sciences

This October 2023 article notes LAU’s strong national ranking in Social Sciences research quality (81.6 %) and Engineering (78.2 %) with metrics showing institutional strength in research outputs. While not directly specifying industry income, it underlines the research base across subject domains (STEM, Social Sciences) necessary for SDG 9 metrics.
Suggested placement: Number of academic staff by subject area: Arts & Humanities / Social sciences and Research income from industry by subject area: Arts & Humanities / Social sciences

Engineering Students’ Projects Secure Funding at National Level (IRALEB) – Dec 5 2024

Several student teams from LAU’s engineering programmes secured funding (~€10,000) from national innovation competition in December 2024 for their technology projects. This demonstrates student-led innovation and pipeline to industry/commerce research income and STEM staff engagement.

Engineering Students’ Projects Secure Funding at the National Level

Two LAU engineering teams received national recognition from the Industrial Research Achievements in Lebanon (IRALEB) program, each earning a €10,000 grant and incubation support under the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate initiative. The projects were shortlisted among Lebanon’s top six student innovations after months of technical development, capacity-building workshops, and a pitching competition held under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry. These teams demonstrated the university’s strength in transforming academic research into practical industrial applications that tackle national challenges.

The first project, supervised by Dr. Noel Maalouf, developed a low-cost, 3D-printed bionic ankle that could reduce production costs by up to 80 %, making prosthetics more affordable for disadvantaged patients. The second, led by Dr. Roland Bejjani, created an AI-enabled texture-analysis tool capable of classifying micro-surfaces for use in semiconductor and sensor industries. Both projects showcase LAU’s capacity for high-impact applied research, reinforcing its leadership in STEM innovation and its alignment with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through technology-driven solutions that advance inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

Alumnus Kevin Gemayel on Rebuilding, Recovery, and Sustainable Urban Development

Mechanical-engineering graduate Kevin Gemayel (BE ’20), now Project Director at Algeco Ltd Lebanon, was featured on the Project Management Institute’s Future 50 List for his leadership in Beirut’s post-explosion reconstruction. Drawing on his LAU education and project-management training, Gemayel led facade restoration of historic landmarks in partnership with government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations. His work illustrates how LAU graduates are applying engineering expertise and soft-skill development to rebuild urban infrastructure and strengthen community resilience.

Gemayel’s success story exemplifies the long-term social and economic impact of LAU’s engineering education, where sustainability and innovation intersect with civic responsibility. His integration of modern project-management systems, digital tools, and sustainable design practices highlights how LAU alumni are directly contributing to SDG 9 by promoting resilient infrastructure, inclusive industrial growth, and sustainable urban development across Lebanon.

Research & Development Partnerships – School of Engineering (SOE)

The School of Engineering (SOE) connects faculty and students with global industry and research leaders to translate academic innovation into applied solutions. Its formal partnerships include collaborations with BMW Group, CERN, C.A.T. Group, and regional innovation programs such as MEPI–TL College-to-Work Pipeline and VIP+. These initiatives strengthen LAU’s role as a key national contributor to research and technology development while promoting industrial training and professional certification.

Through these collaborations, SOE provides industry-funded research opportunities, fosters joint innovation projects, and facilitates technology transfer that enhances Lebanon’s industrial competitiveness. This aligns directly with SDG 9 by reinforcing research income from commerce, advancing STEM capacity, and integrating education, innovation, and entrepreneurship into sustainable industrial ecosystems.

Engineering Students Rewarded for Innovative Projects by Murex

In July 2023, global software firm Murex honored three teams of LAU engineering students for their outstanding capstone projects, awarding a total of $4,500 in prizes. The winning projects included Artemis, an adaptive dependent-care system; QLAUN, a quadruped autonomous robot for field experiments; and a software-engineering excellence award recognizing high-performing students. The event was attended by Murex co-founder Salim Eddé and ECE Chair Dr. Dani Tannir, who praised LAU’s program quality and close partnership with the company.

This long-standing collaboration exemplifies how LAU integrates industry mentorship and academic innovation to prepare students for Lebanon’s tech-driven economy. By engaging directly with a multinational technology company employing over 150 LAU alumni, this initiative reinforces LAU’s contribution to STEM innovation, industry collaboration, and sustainable employment, all core to the implementation of SDG 9.