SABEQ Program and Yarmouk University sponsor conference on research and development

The two-day conference, coordinated by the Deanship of Research and Graduates Studies of the university and supported by the USAID-funded Sustainable Achievement of Business Expansion and Quality Program (SABEQ), focused on the overall importance of the Research and Development (R&D) sector, and its specific role in developing and sustaining Jordan's economic sectors.

The conference sessions and subsequent panel discussions explored how R&D can bridge the gap between scientific research, market needs, and ultimately economic growth by effectively integrating all its aspects, including technology, academia, and government to boost the public's awareness of this cross-cutting element, as well as improve coordination and communication between the sectors mentioned. Discussions also centered on case studies of Asian R&D policies and how the developing Arab world can apply such policies to their countries to become considerable competitors and contributors in the global arena.

The speaker from SABEQ Program highlighted the USAID-funded project's role in the matter, as it has targeted R&D as one of the key elements to enhance and to establish the field as a vital tool to the growth and sustainability of Jordan's economy.

SABEQ will achieve this by creating engagement between the public sector, private sector and academia to identify the competitive weaknesses that exist in the field; the weaknesses are the reasons that Jordan is not able to compete on either the regional or global level. Once the concerned areas are identified, SABEQ will work with the aforementioned players to determine how R&D can address the weaknesses and consequently use it as a solution to the limitations currently facing the industry. These steps will help to create fertile partnerships between the sectors, which in turn will unleash Jordan's intellectual power and harness it for competitiveness.

The Governorate of Irbid is often referred to its strengths in the scientific realm due to the vivacity of the field of study in its universities, and therefore it is one of the prime locations to set forth coordination and communication efforts to bring the sectors and the industry together. Research and Development (R&D) is connected to each element in any given society, as it plays a role in areas such as technology, social studies, art, tourism and many other industries; the act of innovation is related to the commercialization of research which when harnessed, leads to intellectual wealth and economic prosperity.

The attention given to the local economic development factor is systematically incorporated in SABEQ's core components whereby a flexible approach has been created to respond to the secondary cities requirements which build on extensive experience in municipal and regional economic development. This is carried out by building the capacity of local stakeholders and enabling them to transfer their experiences to new municipalities through their collective and participatory efforts. Local steering committees ensure all stakeholders are involved by encouraging partnership between stakeholders and the business communities, educational institutions, NGOs and unions.

In addition, the support of local leaders in the private sector provide strategic direction, identify opportunities for business linkages and provide policy suggestions at local and national levels. SABEQ's essential role is to fully integrate secondary population to increase employment, transfer skills and broaden Jordan's income base to population outside Amman, by currently working in the Governorates of Irbid and Karak.