NCRD sings cooperation agreements with 3 EU-funded projects

Amman, Jan 22 (Petra) — The National Center for Research and Development (NCRD) singed 3 agreements with representatives of PPI4MED ,and EMPHASIS, U-SOLVE, MYSEA projects, funded under the ENI CBC Med Programme, signed three collaboration agreements in Jordan.

During the signing meeting, the two parties highlighted the common goals, priorities, and the challenges in the Mediterranean region.

Maha Al-Aqra, the NCRD representative and PPI4MED project: “technological transfer and commercialization of public research results through PPI in the Mediterranean region”, highlighted the aim of the project to create and demonstrate a model to transfer results from National Research Centers (NRCs) to public buyers, industry, SMEs and people.

The results are transferred through the co-design of solutions in 5 national and 1 cross-border living labs in 5 countries and the implementation of 12 real PPI processes to raise awareness of policymakers to include Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) as a strategic instrument to transfer results as part of the science policy in each concerned country.

Fahmi Abu Al-Rub, the representative of the Jordan University for Science and Technology (JUST) and EMPHASIS, U-SOLVE, MYSEA projects in Jordan, explained the objectives of the three projects:

EMPHASIS, Euro-Mediterranean Network Facilitating Market Uptake of Innovations from SMEs, is set on co-creating a Mediterranean Open Innovation (OI) ecosystem, in which knowledge flows across borders is translated into marketable innovations. The project will co-design, deploy and validate a Mediterranean OI service platform, aiming at better linking the fragmented innovation systems of the region by facilitating meaningful cross-border knowledge flows, empower SMEs with the skill-sets required to tap into external knowledge base and turn it into value and identify fields that can turn sustainability challenges into business opportunities.

U-SOLVE, Urban sustainable development SOLutions Valuing Entreprenership, intends to enhance support to young entrepreneurs in urban areas with focus on the environment and sustainable development. The project will create experimental pathways for place-based strategies, suitable for the Mediterranean countries, where the entrepreneurial energy is oriented towards sustainable and integrated territorial development.

MYSEA, Mediterranean Youth, NEETs, and women advancing Skills, Employment, and Awareness in the blue and green economy, aims to: identify existing and emerging skills and professional needs through oriented training, coaching, and mentoring; and to involve Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and enterprises encouraging sector-skills alliances through apprenticeship, traineeship, and on-the-job training. The project will result in opportunities for young women and NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) to apply the soft and hard skills learned during the training period and offer a platform to exchange experiences and implement national employment schemes in favor of youth employment.

The parties signing the collaboration agreements intend to establish a strong liaison between them, utilizing the results of the living labs, explore opportunities and exchange valuable information for strengthening innovation in Jordan and the Mediterranean region.

//Petra// AF

22/01/2023 22:29:19