📰 4 sources 8 articles · 8 Oct 2026, 14:14 → 9 days ago

Opening of Lebanon's interactive innovation exhibition "EXPERIA" with presidential and ministerial participation

Beirut hosted "EXPERIA EXPO", Lebanon's first interactive innovation exhibition, which began on October 8, 2026, with official, academic, corporate and university participation. The exhibition included speeches and visits by Lebanese officials who stressed Lebanon's ability to keep pace with technological transformation and artificial intelligence and to support innovation and young talent.

📍 Where things stand: The exhibition continues at "Forum de Beyrouth" with official visits and participation by companies and universities, as officials reaffirm the state's commitment to building a digital republic and supporting innovation.

⏱️ Timeline

8 Oct 2026, 14:14 Lebanon's first interactive innovation exhibition opened in the presence of President Joseph Aoun and several ministers, according to MTV Lebanon. Lebanon Debate reported that Aoun opened the "EXPERIA EXPO" exhibition, stressing that Lebanon is still able to keep pace with rapid scientific transformations, especially in artificial intelligence and modern technologies, that scientific progress is no longer a luxury but an essential element in building modern societies, and calling for benefiting from Lebanese expertise abroad to contribute to Lebanon's renaissance.
8 Oct 2026, 19:03 On the sidelines of the "EXPERIA 2026" exhibition in Beirut, representatives of companies, universities and institutions agreed that Lebanon has competencies capable of innovating and competing, from health technology and energy to education and financial services, stressing the need to support companies and entrepreneurs to restore investor confidence, provide growth opportunities inside the country and expansion abroad, and entrench a culture of innovation and digital transformation in public institutions.
8 Oct 2026, 19:32 Lebanese MP Neemat Frem said during his participation in the "EXPERIA" exhibition in Beirut that artificial intelligence represents an opportunity for Lebanon to achieve a technological leap, stressing the ability of Lebanese youth to innovate in this field. He considered that crises can push Lebanon toward technological progress and that Beirut is still present, and spoke about his use of artificial intelligence in research, development and consultancy.
8 Oct 2026, 21:05 Special coverage from the EXPERIA exhibition in Beirut included an interview with Dr. Najib Metni, Vice President for University Development at Notre Dame University–Louaizé, on the prospects of innovation and technology in Lebanon. The interview addressed the role of academia and university initiatives in supporting entrepreneurial projects and reviving the capital, stressing that Lebanon has the energies needed to rise again.
9 Oct 2026, 12:42 Representing President Joseph Aoun, Minister of the Displaced and Minister of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Chehade opened the Experia Expo at "Forum de Beyrouth". Chehade affirmed that Lebanon is able to regain its place and role on the innovation and technology map, noting that holding the exhibition despite difficult circumstances and its postponement because of the war reflects the organizers' faith in Lebanon, and renewing the state's commitment to building a digital republic that places the citizen at the center of its work.
9 Oct 2026, 15:47 First Lady Nehmat Aoun visited the EXPIRIA EXPO, Lebanon's first interactive innovation exhibition, at "Forum de Beyrouth", where she met the exhibition's pioneers. She considered that investing in innovation and technology is an investment in people and in Lebanon's future, expressed hope that these initiatives would become permanent platforms to support young talents, and stopped at the "School of Citizenship" pavilion, which included 150 schools in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the National Center for Research and Development.

Timeline written by AI from the sources below; updated as new reports arrive.

⚠️ Sources disagree

Who inaugurated the Experia exhibition

"President Aoun inaugurates Lebanon's first interactive innovation exhibition in the presence of ministers" according to MTV Lebanon
"Chehade, representing President Aoun, at the opening of Experia" according to LBCI Lebanon

Figures as each outlet reported them at the time. We do not judge which is correct; numbers often change as events develop.

How the sources covered it

MTV Lebanon and LBCI Lebanon focused on the official opening and who represented the President, while Lebanon Debate highlighted the content of President Aoun's speech on science, artificial intelligence and expatriate expertise, and annahar.com broadened its coverage to include the voices of companies, universities, MP Neemat Frem, the academic angle and the First Lady's visit.

MTV Lebanon It led with the inauguration of Lebanon's first interactive innovation exhibition in the presence of President Aoun and ministers, then reported the next day that Minister Kamal Chehade opened the exhibition at "Forum de Beyrouth" representing President Aoun, focusing on his remarks about Lebanon regaining its technological role and the circumstances accompanying the exhibition's postponement.
Lebanon Debate It focused on the substance of President Aoun's speech, highlighting his affirmation that Lebanon can keep pace with scientific transformations, especially artificial intelligence, that scientific progress is no longer a luxury, and his call to benefit from Lebanese expertise abroad.
annahar.com It expanded coverage beyond the official framework to include the views of representatives of companies, universities and institutions in health technology, energy, education and financial services, MP Neemat Frem's remarks on artificial intelligence, an academic interview with Dr. Najib Metni, and the First Lady's visit and the "School of Citizenship" pavilion covering 150 schools.
LBCI Lebanon It offered a brief report focused on Chehade's participation in the opening of Experia on behalf of President Aoun and on his affirmation that Lebanon can regain its place on the innovation and technology map.