The PaperMed initiative has promoted a tighter cooperation between SMEs from the two rims of the Mediterranean in thesector of material assets for the paper industry. From the North side, Italian paper and cardboard production positions the country among the  four leaders in Europe but the local industry stillhas to innovate and develop partnerships to be more competitive. From the South side, in Algeria,  private investments in the industries for the transformation of raw materials (fibre, alfa etc.) are insufficient and the majority of paper pulp is imported. In Morocco, 80 % of paper manufacturers are under-equipped. To respond to these challenges, and create synergies, PaperMed was undertaken actions on three levels: it has facilitated the networking and thecreation of partnerships between manufacturers;  it has developed connections between business support networks; and has raised awareness among entrepreneurs on the environmental and human challenges faced by the paper industry, so as to improve the competitiveness of their businesses.