Introduction

The Workshop was organized by The National Council for Scientific Research, CNRS – Lebanon, in partnership with the French Institute for Research and Development, IRD; and in the framework of the Lebanese Observatory for Research, Development and Innovation (LORDI)  and  the Observatory of EU-MPC Cooperation in Science and Technology of the Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action (MIRA).

The workshop presented the opportunity for university representatives and key stakeholders to come together in a discussion and elaboration of the assessment of research – based on qualitative and quantitative data -  with the aim of better defiing the goals and returns of this endeavour towards promoting common national priorities.

With the understanding that research today relies heavily on well established scientific collaborations and partners both regional and internationa, the workshop was also an opportunity to link the national initiative (LORDI) on a regional level: through the FP7 funded MIRA Project and the kind and valued participation of regional institutions working on similar initiatives in Egypt, Jordan,  Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, as well as the ESCWA Technology Centre; hoping to contribute to the on-going regional and international discussions on the role of science and technology.

Program

Day 1: Monday June 13, 2011

9:15 - 9:45 - Welcome Words & Introductions (Dr. Rigas Arvanitis, IRD)

9:45 – 10:15 - Introduction to STIP, LORDI & MIRA (Rula Atweh, CNRS)

10:15 – 10:30 - Coffee Break

LORDI: BUILDING KNOWLEDGE ON RESEARCH IN LEBANON

10:30 – 10:45 - Official Opening - Dr. Mouïn Hamzé, Secretary General of the CNRS

10:45 – 11:00 - Scientific output of Lebanese research institutions: bibliometric
analysis in Lebanon and in AUB (Dr. Lokman Meho, AUB)

11:00 – 13:00 - Research in Lebanese Universitites. University representatives will present the advancement on research in their University (about 10 minutes each):
Open discussion on research at universities

13:00 – 14:30 - Lunch

STIP: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY

14:30 – 14:45 - General Presentation on Science Policy: STIP (Dr. Hassan Charif, CNRS)
LORDI: BUILDING KNOWLEDGE ON RESEARCH IN LEBANON

14:45 – 15:45 - Panel discussion: - Main tasks and action plan of the LORDI
(Dr. Rigas Arvanitis, IRD) - Analysis of the dynamics of research through qualitative
interviews in Lebanon (Dr. Sari Hanafi, AUB) - Discussion

15:45 – 16:00 Coffee Break

S&T REGIONAL OBSERVATORIES

16:00 – 17:30 - S&T Observatories in the region (10 to 15 Minutes Each)
- Egypt (Dr. Abdel hamid El-Zoheiry, RDI Egypt)
- Tunisia (Dr Arbia Ben Othman, ONST, Tunisia)
- Algeria (Dr. Sifeddine Labed, Ministry, Tec development, Algiers)
- Morocco (Dr. Abdelouahid Ezzarfi, MESRS, Morocco)
- Jordan (Dr. Majali, HCST, Jordan)
- ESCWA (Dr. Fouad Mrad, ESCWA, Lebanon)

17:30 – 18:00 Discussion

Day 2: Tuesday June 14, 2011

MIRA: OBSERVING SCIENCE AND INNOVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

9:30 – 9:45 - Presentation of the MIRA White Paper “Assessment of International Scientific Cooperation in the Mediterranean Region: An International Challenge Ahead.” (Dr. Rigas Arvanitis)

Please find also the White paper on strategic indicators for the measurement and impact of international scientific cooperation and collaborations in the Mediterranean region.

9:45 – 10:00 - Innovation in the MIRA project: EMIS analytical needs (Yasemin
Koç, British Council, UK)

10:00 – 10:30 - The relation between basic indicators of science and technology
and indicators of international collaborations (Hatem M’henni, Tunisia). In this session Dr. M’henni will expose efforts to measure S&T and the way to capture international collaborations. The discussion will focus on a list of indicators contained in the MIRA “White paper”.

10:30 – 10:45 Coffee Break

ANALYZING RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS

10:45 – 11:45 - Panel discussion:
- Mediterranean partner countries participation in EU projects (Rula Atweh, CNRS)
- Survey of scientific Collaboration Between the European Countries and Mediterranean Partner Countries. (Justine Baer, Arin Ayanian, Jacques Gaillard and Rigas Arvanitis, AUB & IRD)
- Euro-LAC International Cooperation in Science and Technology (S&T): A Questionnaire Survey (Jacques Gaillard, Anne-Marie Gaillard, Rigas Arvanitis, IRD)

11:45 – 12:00 - Conclusion: the need for data collection by universities and
research centres.

Pleas find also the list of participants and if you have enough rights in this web page, also the minutes.

Other Documentation

- LORDI Tasks & Framework (English).
- LORDI Tasks & Framework (Arabic).
- Information and Definitions Used in the Collection of Data for LORDI.

Useful Links

• National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS): www.cnrs.edu.lb
• Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD): www.ird.fr
• OECD - Frascati Manual 2002: Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys on Research and Experimental Development: http://www.oecd.org/document/6/0,3343,en_2649_34451_33828550_1_1_1_1,00.html
• Evaluation des capacités Scientifiques, Techniques et d’Innovation des pays Meditérranéens (ESTIME): http://www.estime.ird.fr/
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics: http://www.uis.unesco.org
• ESCWA Technology Centre for Development: http://www.escwa.un.org/divisions/ictd/etc/main.asp