Saint-Gobain and ESA sign a MOU agreement in Beirut

Saint-Gobain Middle East Holding SAL, a world leader in sustainable construction and ESA Business School, a major management school that trains the leaders of tomorrow, have signed a partnership agreement this Wednesday, October 19, 2022 on the campus of ESA in the presence of Mr. Hady Nassif, CEO of Saint-Gobain EMME countries, and Mr. Maxence Duault, Managing Director of ESA business school. This agreement aims to implement a support program for start-ups committed in the field of sustainable development. This program is entitled “Green Hub: “Accelerator for sustainability projects”. The partners, both strongly committed to initiatives of social, economic and ecological transformations and eager to contribute to the recovery of Lebanon, wished to go beyond simple speeches of intent by implementing a concrete initiative, bearing meaning and future. The incubation program, fully funded by Saint-Gobain, will take place over the 2022-2023 academic year and will be implemented by SmartESA, an ESA Business School start-up incubator and accelerator with unique know-how and a methodology based on a tailor-made and personalized approach. The Green Hub program will include a recruitment campaign, workshops, coaching sessions, use of incubator spaces, coaching by the SmartESA team, a welcome event and a demo-day. Saint-Gobain will participate in the start-up selection jury and the final jury. Mr. Hady NASSIF recalled on the occasion of this official signature the commitment of Saint-Gobain EMME to develop sustainable and comfortable solutions that guarantee the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. He detailed the company’s actions in terms of Social Responsibility, summarized through six pillars: business ethics and compliance program, commitment and diversity of employees, health and safety throughout the value chain, climate change, circular economy and inclusive growth. Mr. Maxence Duault warmly thanked Mr. Hady Nassif and Saint-Gobain while highlighting ESA’s commitment to achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He specified that such a project is fully in line with axis 5 “Responsible Actor” of the Strategic Orientation Plan of ESA Business School. He finally added that he was delighted with such a collaboration based on a common desire to craft a better future for the country of Cedars.