Programme / Scientific Cooperation and Regional Integration for the 2030 Agenda in MENA

Empirical evidence shows that scientific discoveries and technological innovations led most efficiently to economic prosperity, yielding social stability and hence peaceful dignified living. However, this has not always been the case in many Arab countries. After decades of investments in education, and infrastructure for labs and research centers, the dividends did not significantly lower unemployment, curtailed the brain drain, or circumvent wars. Scientific research resulted in more publications but remained short of useful innovative solutions to the numerous overwhelming local problems.

Turning the tide is a required direction to reap relevant returns on societal investments in education, science and technology for addressing local developmental challenges and promoting more peaceful societies and prosperous countries.

The present international pressures of accelerated challenges (e.g. climate change, unemployment, energy - food - water insecurity) are concurrent with lucrative technological innovation opportunities (e.g. Internet of Things, Artificial intelligence, Big data, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, and others). The Arab countries have the chance to channel their national and regional proven scientific research capacity and infrastructure towards developing efficient solutions to local and international challenges with a productive national innovation and technology transfer system. The main objectives of the UN ESCWA organized session on Knowledge and Technology Development and Transfer pivotal role in Local Sustainable Development are:

• to review and discus the operational and legislative frameworks of national technology development and transfer systems in the 6 project implemented countries Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, and Tunis.
• To provide a platform to discuss with distinguished panelists means of harnessing identified strengths, and established systems and related legislations for supporting economic diversification and the generation of decent employment especially for the educated youth in the Arab region