Amman: Higher Council for Science and Technology Secretary-General Mashhour Al-Rifai and Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan Al-Halabi on Monday discussed prospects of joint cooperation to enhance scientific and research relations. During the meeting, attended by Syrian Charg© d'Affaires in Amman Ihsan Al-Ruman, Al-Rifai noted the deep-rooted relations between Jordan and Syria, welcoming any cooperation or networking between the council and Syrian universities, research institutions, and entrepreneurs.
According to Jordan News Agency, Al-Rifai emphasized the necessity to launch initiatives to develop policies related to science, technology, and innovation, support scientific research, and connect Jordanian and Syrian researchers with projects that benefit both countries. He reviewed the role of the Higher Council as an umbrella for science and technology through its programs and events in the fields of water, energy, food, environment, and information technology.
Al-Rifai also addressed the council's project to identify research priorities for the next ten years, the importance of the Al-Hassan Learning Platform, the new strategy of the Scientific Research and Innovation Support Fund, and specialized peer-reviewed scientific journals. He pledged that the council, with its affiliated centers and funds, would provide support and council to Syria in its new journey, and benefit from the outcomes of the project to identify research priorities for the next decade.
For his part, Al-Halabi praised the council's efforts and role at the local, regional, and international levels in linking academia and industry. He expressed his anticipation to build effective and strong partnerships in areas of common interest. The Syrian minister highlighted his country's efforts to invest in research, and his ministry's aspiration to build a system modeled on the Jordanian Supreme Council in Syria. He mentioned that the visit marks the beginning of a long journey of cooperation and joint work in the research field and networking between academia and industry.