Abu-Ghazaleh, ESCWA, Arab Industrial Development and Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization organised the Arab Forum for Nanoscience and Technologies Applications

22 Oct 2017 Amman - Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org), ESCWA Technology Center, Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization (AIDMO), Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) organized the Arab Forum for Nanoscience and Technologies Applications, which was held at the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh University in Amman.

The objective of the Forum was to serve the 17 sustainable development goals adopted by world leaders on September 2015, particularly with regard to Goal no 2 related to (Food Security), Goal no 6 related to (Ensuring Water Availability), Goal no 7 related to (Affordable and Clean Energy) and Goal no 9 related to (Industrialization and Promotion of Innovation), as well as Goal no 17 related to (Partnerships for the Goals).

Abu-Ghazaleh and Associates, in collaboration with the ESCWA Technical Center and the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization, prepared a study to identify the most promising investment opportunities in the field of nanotechnology adaptation in the desalination and solar energy sectors.

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh expressed the hope for willing participants to implement these projects in the Arab region, stressing that the Arab countries must keep pace with developments and global changes in this area in order to join the world of artificial intelligence. He called for the organization of an Arab conference on industrial intelligence with stakeholders, partners and investors, stressing the need to generate interest in investing in creativity and to develop this new mindset in the Arab world.

He stressed the urgent need for a revolution of change in this area in order to achieve the goal of transition to the state of creativity, hoping that the Forum will achieve its objectives and will emerge with important results and exchange of valuable experiences in this vital and important topic.

Mr. Mohammed Ali Al Hakim, ESCWA Executive Secretary, said that the past 10 years have witnessed a positive shift towards nanoscience and technology in the fields of research, education and industry, according to a recent UNESCO report "Towards 2030".

He also pointed out that the ESCWA Center for Technology was fully prepared to support Member States in developing the environment for the transfer and development of technology, including policies, legislation and investment opportunities through public-private partnerships, universities and research centers, and to play a leading role in innovation and harness technologies produced in scientific laboratories to serve sustainable development.

Eng. Adel Al-Saqer, Director-General of the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization (AIDMO) said that Arab countries have a great opportunity to catch up with global scientific and technological progress in the field of nanoscience and technology, if there is availability of the necessary resources for success including human potential and infrastructure and investment directed to research in this area.

 Mr. Al-Saqer stressed the importance of cooperation between government institutions, research centers and the Arab private sector, citing the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization as an example of one of the most important institutions of the Arab and international private sector, playing a positive role in activating  research results and transforming them into knowledge and economic value.

On her part, Her excellency Mrs. Sally Hassan, representative of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), said that this international forum raises awareness about the transformations and profound changes the world is witnessing, making it necessary to bring science to the forefront of attention by various specialized and concerned bodies in our Arab countries.

Mrs. Hassan said she is looking forward to the success of the Forum as a step towards advancing joint Arab action in the contribution towards the promotion of scientific awareness of nanoscience and technology, supporting comprehensive development issues and removing the obstacles that stand in the way of linking scientific research in various industrial, agricultural, medical, health and other fields.

The forum was attended by members of the Scientific Committee of the Arab Initiative, representatives of relevant Arab, regional and international organizations, representatives of the executive departments of the relevant government institutions, as well as an elite group of researchers in the fields of nanotechnology, as well as experts and investors interested in the sector.