Activity Report ISESCO Centre for Promotion of Scientific Research (ICPSR) January - December 2015
Achievement Record Sector-specific Priority: Promotion of Innovative Scientific Research Under the sector-specific priority pertaining to the promotion of innovative scientific research, six (6) expected outcomes were fulfilled, divided over two action lines: promotion of scientific publications that meet quality standards, and optimal use of scientific research output. During 2015, ISESCO Center for Promotion of Scientific Research (ICPSR) made three (3) achievements under the first action line, which helped, to a large extent, achieve the expected results of this action line. In this regard, two issues of ISESCO Journal of Science and Technology were published, featuring quality articles by researchers and teachers from different Member States. The results of research in areas such as renewable energy, the environment, agriculture, ICT, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and mechanical engineering were thus shared and valued in order to contribute to sustainable development in the Islamic world. Furthermore, the www.icpsr.org.ma portal dedicated to the scientific community was upgraded to meet users new needs. On the other hand, pursuing its objective of developing endogenous capacity in science and technology in Member States, the Center allocated 9 research grants to three young women and six young men from the Member States in priority areas of scientific research. Under the second action line, and to fulfill the expected outcome that underscores the need to improve the alignment of academia with industry and organize training workshops/meetings to raise awareness about intellectual property rights and capacity-building workshops focused on the repair and maintenance of equipment of scientific laboratories at a rate of one workshop per year and with a significant participation of women and youth, the Center fulfilled three (3) accomplishments successfully. The Center participated in the World Summit Award Mobile (WSA-mobile), a global meeting of the digital industry and the mobile industry to select and promote the best digital applications with real socioeconomic impact. It also organized a workshop on National Innovation and Intellectual Property Systems in the Arab Region, in Tunis, jointly by the Commission on Science and Technology for countries of the South (COMSATS) and the Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT). Participants focused on the interaction between universities, research institutions, businesses and governments to stimulate growth and wealth creation, while protecting intellectual property. The pace of research also depends largely on well-maintained scientific equipment. Accordingly, the Center and COMSATS 89
Activity Report ICPSR jointly organized a national workshop on Repair and maintenance of engineering equipment in universities, research institutes and small-scale industries, which benefited more than 30 engineers, teachers and technicians from different Omani cities who were exposed to the latest advancements in this area. 90
Action Line 3.8: PROMOTING SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS MEETING QUALITY STANDARDS Expected outcome 3.8.1: Upgrading ISESCO Journal of Science and Technology and adjusting ICPSR website (www.icpsr.or.ma) for Muslim world scientific community Publication of ISESCO Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 11, No. 19, ISESCO headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, May 2015. The Journal was distributed to writers and researchers in Member States scientific and technical institutions. Publication of ISESCO Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 11, No. 20, ISESCO headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, November 2015. The Journal was distributed to writers and researchers in Member States scientific and technical institutions. Strengthening and updating the ICPSR website (www.icpsr.org.ma), ISESCO headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, throughout the whole year, for the benefit of universities and national centres of scientific and/ or technical research in Member States, in cooperation with the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS). Expected outcome 3.8.2: Granting more research scholarships for the youth in priority science areas Support was sustained for 9 scientific research projects in nanotechnology, agricultural and health biotechnology, engineering sciences, medicinal plants, etc, ISESCO headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, throughout 2015, for the benefit of 9 young researchers from the Comoros, Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Tunisia, Brunei Darussalam, Côte d Ivoire and Malaysia.
Action Line 3.9: Valorisation of Scientific Research Outcome Expected outcome 3.9.1: Fostering the link between universities and industries The World Summit Award Mobile (WSAmobile), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 1-3 February 2015; eight (8) Champions for 2015 were selected from among the 40 finalists (mobile application designers and developers) based on their innovative mobile applications (mobile apps) with socio-cultural or economic impact at the national, regional or international level. A Grand Jury, composed of international experts, awarded various prizes to the eight winners who distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions in the following categories: m-government & Participation; m-environment & Health; m-learning & Education; m-entertainment & Lifestyle; m-tourism & Culture; m-media & News; m-business & Commerce; and m-inclusion & Empowerment. Organized by the International Center for New Media (ICNM), and several international organizations, including ISESCO, in partnership with Distance Learning and Training (DLT), and hosted by the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC). Expected outcome 3.9.3: Organizing training workshops/meetings on sensitization to intellectual property rights A three-day regional workshop on National Innovation and Intellectual Property Systems, Tunis, Tunisia, 5-7 October 2015; with the participation of 18 experts and representatives of international organizations and the private sector from the following countries: Jordan, Tunisia, Oman, the Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Malaysia, Pakistan and China; organized jointly with the COMSATS and the Inter-Islamic Network of Information Technology (INIT); for the benefit of Arab Member States. 92
January - December 2014 Expected outcome 3.9.4: Organising training workshops on repair and maintenance of scientific lab equipment (one workshop each year) with significant participation of women and young people A national workshop on Repair and maintenance of engineering equipment in universities, research institutes and smallscale industries, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rustaq, Oman, 23-27 August 2015, for the benefit of thirty (30) engineers, teachers and technicians from different Omani institutes supervised by two Pakistani experts from the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR, Karachi); organized jointly with the COMSATS and the Omani National Commission for Education, Science and Culture. 93