Entrepreneurial training and support can be a catalyst for innovation and development (EU, UNDP, UNESCO, OECD). Yabda project (Yabda يبدأ is the Arab word for beginning, initiating) aims to build the capacity necessary in ten Maghreb Universities for exploiting the high research and development potential of the region and transitioning university research to the marketplace.Yabda will develop an innovative ecosystem that will foster: -Guidance: an online guide will offer practical, personalized information for building an enterprise; a targeted training programme, complemented with personal coaching will support the creation of start-ups.-Engagement: a university network will reach and mobilize faculty members, administrative staff, researchers and students. The Yabda-Innovate unit will orient students to the process of design thinking; at its core will be the business/marketing, engineering and computer science departments. Through the Yabda-Law unit Law faculty members, staff and students will help potential entrepreneurs and startups with their patent/copyright etc., before seeking expert advise. The Yabda-Student unit will provide grassroots support group to entrepreneurship.-Exchanges and sharing: the Yabda-Hub will be a centre for the development of early-stage startups in green technologies, energy and sustainable development; the Yabda-Site twill provide all the information for the development and visibility of startups; the Yabda-Community will connect all interested parties in the University in exchanging experiences and ideas.-Support: the Yabda-enterprise team will have the mission to support and advance Yabda in the long term through a) the development of expertise in the commercialization of Universities’ knowledge and technology, b) partnership-building with the external regional/national/international entrepreneurial ecosystem. Yabda will stimulate an entrepreneurial mindset that will foster innovation in the entire Maghreb region.