Amman, May 26 (Petra) – A delegation from the Higher Council for Science and Technology, headed by Secretary-General Mashhour Rifai and accompanied by Assistant for Scientific and Technological Affairs Raeda Odeh, visited Türkiye to explore avenues for cooperation with academic and research institutions.

The visit aligns with the Council’s strategic efforts to bolster bilateral collaboration in scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer.

In a statement released Monday, Rifai noted that the visit reflects the Council’s commitment to building strategic partnerships with prominent scientific institutions in the region and beyond, with the aim of supporting national research priorities and reinforcing Jordan’s role as a regional hub for knowledge and innovation.

The delegation met with officials at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUB?TAK) to discuss enhancing ongoing cooperation and review joint projects previously implemented. These included three collaborative initiatives with Jordan’s National Center for Research and Development in the areas of food and water security, as well as artificial intelligence.

Both sides stressed the importance of formalizing future cooperation through a memorandum of understanding and agreed on the need to utilize TUB?TAK’s researcher database to improve communication and academic networking.

The delegation also visited Istanbul Technical University (ITU), a leading institution in high-performance computing and nuclear research. Discussions centered on potential cooperation in PRIMA projects, researcher exchange programs, and benefiting from ITU’s expertise in establishing and operating technology parks (technoparks).

At Sakarya University (SAU), a memorandum of understanding was signed to strengthen collaboration in joint research initiatives and the organization of scientific and academic events. The Jordanian delegation was introduced to SAU’s technopark model, endowment-based funding system, and its plan for international outreach through the establishment of offices for global partners. Jordan was invited to open an office in the technopark to support bilateral projects.

The visit also included meetings with faculty deans and department heads, including the Department of Islamic Economics, where the university presented research efforts in Islamic finance and ongoing academic collaborations with several countries.

//Petra// AJ
26/05/2025 15:12:31