The consortium

EMUNI University was established in 2008 as one of the 6 key priorities of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) with the aim of enhancing cooperation in higher education and research across the North and the South shores of the Mediterranean and to act as the education and research hub of the UfM. EMUNI has become an international institution with 206 member institutions from 42 different countries, which gathers expert knowledge and experience of the Euro-Mediterranean countries and thus contributes in a significant way to the creation of a unified, integrated Euro-Mediterranean higher education and research area. Within its mission, EMUNI is pursuing the following goals:

• raising quality of higher education through the implementation of study and research programmes;

• becoming an international university, which will acknowledge cultural diversity;

• establishing university environment, which will have a stimulating effect on integration of different nations and cultures in the academic spheres;

• ensuring administrative, operational and material infrastructure, which will enable the operation of the university.

Its tasks are focused on short term study activities, such as professional upgrading study programmes, summer schools, short-term intensive programmes and participation in research and project activities with international partners. In the last years, emphasis was given to the project management and cooperation.

EMUNI’s experience in coordinating an extensive platform of cooperating institutions is crucial for this project proposal (MERID).

EFB is specifically focused in Innovation Management, providing support services to private and public organisations in Product and Process Innovation, Technology Transfer, IT solutions and support for research and development projects. Headquartered in London EFB is made up of a pool of professional with consolidated experience in international working environments (Europe, Latin America, USA) and Grant Advisors specialized in consultancy services for grants submission and negotiation, project management, and dissemination actions. These skills are backed by additional research capability and an experienced administrative infrastructure. In the recent years EFB has taken in charge the dissemination activities of several EU funded projects thus boosting the communication impact of research activities in several fields.

Set up in 2007, EFB is a high-growth knowledge intensive company, doubling its turnover each year and expanding its operation in the whole Europe. The growth of EFB can be explained by the innovative and specific services that the company offers, by supporting Industrial and Research organisations in defining and implementing their innovation and research strategies, through the usage of advanced methodologies and ICT solutions oriented. Moreover, thanks to its multidisciplinary expertise, EFB has developed a specific expertise in setting up complex international technology transfer consortium and networks. The experience of the EFB team can be attributed to the strong involvement in R&D activities conducted with highly qualified European and international Companies and Research Centres such as University of North London (UK), Technical University of Rouen (France), Polytechnic of Turin (Italy), Maribor Business College, Oxford University, Incubator I3P, University of Venice (Italy), University of Lods (Poland), Tubitak (Turkey), Tecnologico of Monterrey (Mexico), University of Central Florida (USA), Local and Regional governments e. g. Brighton and Hove Council (UK), Comunitad Valenciana (Spain), Emilia-Romagna and Apulia (Italy), Stockholm (S), Small and Medium Enterprises Associations e. g. (Birmingham Chamber of Commerce (UK), Croatian Chamber of Economy (HR), Slovenian Business Research Association (SLO).

The CIHEAM (Centre International Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Mediterraneennes) is an intergovernmental organization including 13 Mediterranean member countries: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia, Turkey. The IAMB (Istituto Agronomico Mediterraneo di Bari) is the Italian based Institute of the CIHEAM and it was founded under the aegis of the OECD and the European Council on May 21, 1962. The overall structure of CIHEAM includes the General Secretariat based in Paris and four Institutes specialising in different sectors, disciplines and horizontal issues linked to agriculture, water, food, environment and climate. All the institutes of CIHEAM provide post-graduate training, research, cooperation and capacity building targeted to all the Mediterranean countries.

The institutional mission of CIHEAM-IAMB is both political and cooperation (training, research, capacity building). The strong political mission of CIHEAM is aiming at improving the policy dialogue on agriculture and related sectors (i.e.: water, food) conveying all the Mediterranean Ministers of Agriculture in the annual Mediterranean Ministerial Conference.

CIHEAM-IAMB is presently co-ordinating two relevant bi-regional support actions funded by FPCapacities-INCO:

1. The INCONET for Mediterranean: MedSpring (Mediterranean Science, Policy, Research and Innovation Gateway). Grant agreement N 311780

2. The ERANET for Mediterranean: ERANETMED (Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation through ERANET joint activities and beyond). Grant agreement N 609475.

CIHEAM-IAMB was partner in the former INCONET for Mediterranean:

1. MIRA (Mediterranean Innovation and Research Area), responsible for the implementation of Capacity Building Activities, particularly on FP7.

In 2011, CIHEAM-IAMB has been appointed by EXPO2015 as responsible of the organisation and implementation of a permanent research initiative on the food security, involving in first instance the Southern Mediterranean countries.

2. CIHEAM-IAMB has also long track record of coordination and/or participation in research projects or coordination actions funded by FP4, FP5, FP6. He was partner in two FP7-ERAWIDE projects in Lebanon and Syria.

“Sustainable Communication”: Defining and Promoting a Sustainable Approach to Communication. The SCOM Association intends to promote a series of events aimed at drawing conclusions on the following issues: clarify how a communication based on participation and integration could across sectorial knowledge borders and informative asymmetries, and how such a communication could carry out a connecting role in the process of knowledge sharing; collect experiences and best practices on connective and mutual learning use of communication within and across sustainability systems; delineate innovative communicative modalities to support the introduction of the reflexivity function; that is the ability to calibrate continuously the actions undertaken (in political, economic, scientific field etc), taking into account the impact of these actions on society and environment; investigate how sustainability principles and methods could be applied in to the specific fields of institutional communication, corporate governance and scientific research; study how ICT and Social Media (Information and Communication Technologies) can play a role in favour of the introduction of participative communication in multi-stakeholder analysis and decision making process.

Inspired by the digital agenda pillars of Europe 2020 initiative, S-com, becomes an open space where debating and exchanging ideas freely according the principle of multidisciplinary that live in it since 2005.

The National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) is a national public institution, which, since its establishment by law on 14 September 1962, has been entrusted with a double mission: the first advisory, the second executive. Reporting to the Prime Minister, the CNRS is an autonomous office directed by a Board of Directors and managed by a Secretary General. The consultative mission of the CNRS involves the formulation of guidelines for national scientific policies aimed at enhancing the development of the country.

As part of its executive mission, the CNRS secures the promotion,  organization and realization of these policies in programmes of action, implemented in its own research centers or in collaboration with other academic, research and development institutions. As part of its main mission, the objectives of the CNRS are to develop scientific research in Lebanon and to direct that research to respond to the needs of the country and to the evolution of science and innovation worldwide. The creation of 4 affiliated research centers is a major accomplishment of the CNRS, namely: the National Centre for Geophysics, the National Centre for Marine Sciences, the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission and The National Centre for Remote Sensing. The CNRS has been involved in several EU funded projects, particularly in the Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action (MIRA) as a co-leader of the work package on the Observatory of EU-MED Cooperation; and as a leader in the ERA-WIDE Project on Improving National Assessment and Monitoring Capacities for Integrated Environmental and Coastal Ecosystem Management (INCAM). Other FP7 Projects in which the CNRS was involved are: MED-IST, MEDCOASTLAND JOINMED, SEADATANET, SESAME, and others. The majority of these projected contributed to enhancing the local expertise by implementing innovative methodologies.

The National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) is a national public institution, which, since its establishment by law on 14 September 1962, has been entrusted with a double mission: the first advisory, the second executive. Reporting to the Prime Minister, the CNRS is an autonomous office directed by a Board of Directors and managed by a Secretary General. The consultative mission of the CNRS involves the formulation of guidelines for national scientific policies aimed at enhancing the development of the country.

As part of its executive mission, the CNRS secures the promotion,  organization and realization of these policies in programmes of action, implemented in its own research centers or in collaboration with other academic, research and development institutions. As part of its main mission, the objectives of the CNRS are to develop scientific research in Lebanon and to direct that research to respond to the needs of the country and to the evolution of science and innovation worldwide. The creation of 4 affiliated research centers is a major accomplishment of the CNRS, namely: the National Centre for Geophysics, the National Centre for Marine Sciences, the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission and The National Centre for Remote Sensing. The CNRS has been involved in several EU funded projects, particularly in the Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action (MIRA) as a co-leader of the work package on the Observatory of EU-MED Cooperation; and as a leader in the ERA-WIDE Project on Improving National Assessment and Monitoring Capacities for Integrated Environmental and Coastal Ecosystem Management (INCAM). Other FP7 Projects in which the CNRS was involved are: MED-IST, MEDCOASTLAND JOINMED, SEADATANET, SESAME, and others. The majority of these projected contributed to enhancing the local expertise by implementing innovative methodologies.

The Center for Middle Eastern and North African Politics is part of the Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science at the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the Freie Universität Berlin, one of Germany’s largest universities. The Center was founded in 1980 and is one of the four main social sciences research institutions for the Middle East in Germany. It hosts German and international researchers. The main fields of research, publication and teaching are contemporary political, social and cultural developments in the region, based on critical and qualitative approaches. Research is particularly focused on the dynamics of bottom-up change within the context of authoritarianism, the impact of socioeconomic grievances, changing gender relations, transformation of state-society relations, intra- and interstate violence and the prospects of regional and international cooperation. Research critically reflects on Europe’s historical and colonial heritage. The Centre edits a online working-paper series and its director is the co-editor of a book series with the German Springer/VS-Verlag.

The Ministry of Scientific Research in Egypt was established in 1963. One of the main tasks of MoSR is to determine the research strategies at national levels, to design plans, develop programs, launch initiatives and implement strategies to support and promote science and innovation in Egypt as well as to contribute in the advancement of the theoretical and applied scientific research. Recognizing the need for international cooperation in STI, Research, Development and Innovation (RDI), and in particular with Europe, MoSR has established a designated unit for International Cooperation, which deals with all S&T and RDI actions on a regional/bilateral level. This unit is instrumental in implementing the Science and Technology agreement, and its Action Plan, that Egypt has signed with the EC in 2005. Through Egypt-EU S&T agreement an RDI Programme (ENPI/2009/21866) has been setup, with the aim of enhancing Egypt’s participation in EU Framework Programmes and establishing an Innovation fund in Egypt.

In pursuing the above objectives, MoSR assigned an active network of thematic NCPs in almost all FP7 themes coordinated by a NCP Coordinator who is part of the Ministry in addition to a network of institutional Focal Points in all Egyptian Universities, Research Centers and relevant Ministries and Industrial organizations. MoSR is actively involved in regional and international STI policy dialogue through several platforms, particularly with Africa especially being the current chair of African Ministerial Conference of Science and Technology (AMCOST), which is the primary body responsible for S&T and for the promotion of bi-regional S&T cooperation.

Within the framework of FP7, MoSR is actively involved in 7 projects, 2 INCO-NETS addressing the following regions respectively: Mediterranean (Deputy Coordinator of MED SPRING Project), Sub Saharan Africa and Gulf, 2 ERANETs Project for both African and Mediterranean region (ERAfrica & ERANETMED), INCO NCPs Network Project in addition to being the coordinator of Egypt BILAT Project (ShERACA and ShERACA Plus). MoSR is playing an instrumental role in strengthening and advancing the policy dialogue in the region for reinforcing STI cooperation through its active role in the AMCOST, the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation in Research, Technological Development (MoCo) and the Union for the Mediterranean.

The Iranian Association for Management of Technology (IRAMOT) is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization which is established with the aim of promoting the highest quality education and research in MOT. In the year 2003 the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology approved the establishment of the IRAMOT Association. As an association, we strive in directing our efforts toward progress and advancement of the MOT field.

Iranian Association for Management of Technology (IRAMOT) with the aim of promoting the level of science and technology in the world tries to explain the importance role of Management of Technology and develop professional team and experts in the field of Management of Technology (MOT). IRAMOT intends to improve the interactions and cooperation between different parts in MOT and providing related services such as training and consulting to the firms. IRAMOT tries to support S&T policy making, in national and firm levels by promoting and developing a network of MOT experts.

Our vision is to achieve first place among active associations in the field of Management of Technology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In order to achieve this vision, strategies and practices are designed and followed in different time intervals; medium-term (5 to 15 years) and short term (less than 5 years).

Scientific outcome

1. Advancing knowledge in the field of Management of technology by encouraging and facilitating research and development, scientific networking, Holding international Congresses, Symposia and international Workshops at regular intervals and inter-disciplinary activities

2. Facilitating education and training through training seminars with particular emphasis in university and industry with the aim of Increasing expertise and the number of experts in the country

3. Publishing monthly Newsletter and books which provides all sorts of topics on our research

4. Creating national digital library for researchers in the field of MOT, this program aims to create innovative and beneficial ways to access network resources

5. IRAMOT since the year has been established has held many valuable national and international workshops in the field of Commercialization, Managing R&D Organization, Innovation Management, Technology transfer, … with presence of precious professors from all over the world.

Technological Outcome

1. Supervising research and consultative projects,

2. Establishment of research workgroups in related areas,

3. Providing the database of projects and dissertations required in the firm and national levels,

4. Supporting the related projects and dissertations in the field of Management of Technology(MOT),

Research projects:

1. World Technological Capability monitoring (WTCM).

2. Technology Commercialization in Iranian Hi-tech firms.

3. Planning Strategies for Iranian Scientific Associations.

4. Renewable energy monitoring.

The University of Jordan is the first higher education institute in Jordan. Since its establishment in 1962, the mission of the University is based on three pillars, namely; teaching, research and community services. The

University offers 63 programs at the undergraduate level, and 130 programs at the graduate level and in all fields of specializations at the levels of MSc and PhD. All programs offered by the University combine traditional academic lecturing with the more liberal methodologies of instruction which are based on dialogue, research and creative thinking. Theoretical instruction is further assisted with interactive multimedia teaching techniques and computer-based instructional materials to support, and eventually discard, traditional teaching methodologies. Field work, practical training, and applied research are essential components of most of the programs offered by the University. One of the main goals of the University is excelling in research production and postgraduate programs in a way that serves local, regional and global communities in addition to developing the educational process.

Realizing the importance of research and its role in the development of nations, the University has entrusted special diligence to scientific research and founded the Deanship of Academic Research (DAR) in the year 1973. The deanship is responsible for organizing, supervising, promoting and supporting academic research as the means for vast development and technological advancement. The role that DAR is playing in augmenting and expanding human knowledge is recognized through persistently seeking ways and new endeavors to encourage, develop, promote and support scientific activities both locally and internationally.

The deanship has largely concentrated and carefully considered modernizing and developing its tools to include interdisciplinary research with emphasis on integrated and comprehensive tracks in all disciplines.

The deanship aims at achieving the university’s objective of helping faculty members at the university to push their research to internationally recognized levels and to promote scientific knowledge. The deanship provides researchers with whatever they need, from the latest equipment, to programs that help them accomplish their research proposals in the best possible manner. Funding research projects conducted by faculty members and other university personnel is the main responsibility of DAR. The Deanship ensures that most of applied research proposals are funded locally or from agencies within Jordan and international institutions. Special emphasis is, however, paid towards funding proposals of national interest and priority, e.g. energy, food and water.

Established in 2003, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) is working mainly for the purpose of utilizing scientific research and innovation in fostering and consolidation the economic growth and development in Iraq.

MoST comprises (8) main General Research Directorates that embodies about 40 Research and Development Centers. The Profile of MoST extends to include various Research and Development Centers covering the following fields: Renewable Energy, Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies, Industrial R&D, Materials Science and Research, Space Technology and Communication, ICT, and Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Technologies.

ESADEgeo was launched in a context of transformation and change. The economic crisis has highlighted our interdependence and the global nature of the problems we face. It has also served to question the values and institutions on which our growth model has been based. Clearly, a new mindset is needed to adapt in the best possible way to this new reality, both from a theoretical and practical point of view, in order to build a better world. We need to be proactive and committed citizens to address the current problems. ESADEgeo aims to become an international benchmark in the study of economic globalisation and global governance, along with their implications for the various social actors: companies, governments and civil society organisations.

Mission:

1. To produce practical knowledge on economic globalisation and its interrelationships with geopolitics and global governance, addressing the various social actors: governments, companies and civil society organizations.

2. To disseminate and create opportunities for the application of that knowledge; aimed at institutional strengthening and developing the various actors’ organisational capacities.

3. To raise awareness of future leaders of our time, whatever the context in which they pursue their activities, on the growing interdependencies between activities, processes and conflicts occurring in different parts of world, and empower them to exercise influence and make decisions in an excellent but also committed manner according to these new contexts, especially complex and dynamic and in today’s world.

The “Centre for Regional and International STI Studies and Support – CeRISS” is a centre specializing in Studies and Research-support activities in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) with specific emphasis on International Cooperation. CeRISS’ founding partners have extensive experience as coordinators of international cooperation and capacity building projects funded under the Capacities programme of FP7 (IncoNet for Eastern Europe and Central Asia-IncoNet EECA, IncoNet for Central Asia and South Caucasus-IncoNet CA/SC, key partners in the IncoNet for the Euro- Mediterranean Cooperation- MIRA). They have also been involved in various other EU projects under the People and Life+ programmes. CeRISS focuses on STI cooperation between the EU and its neighbouring countries and regions (Eastern Partnership countries, Russia, Central Asian, Western Balkans, South Mediterranean/Arabic countries and Turkey).

CeRISS considers that sustainable transnational and regional cooperation plays a major role in achieving an efficient STI chain. To this end, the Centre implements networking, support and capacity building activities acting as a facilitator among policy makers, the research community and economic actors at international level. More specifically CeRISS activities include Studies and Support Actions (implementation of studies in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) with emphasis in International Cooperation policies in STI and implementation of capacity building and infrastructure development actions), Project preparation and implementation (preparation and implementation of projects under the EU’s Framework Programmes, as well as the Development and Cooperation Programme and the IPA Funds in the field of STI; Exploitation of funds and opportunities for STI support under the EU’s Regional programmes; Management of European Research and Infrastructure projects), and Networking and Dissemination activities (Networking and matchmaking activities among relevant stakeholders; Exchange of information, knowledge transfer, and fostering STI awareness; Training of junior researchers in STI policy and management).

CeRISS is currently ensuring the Scientific Coordination of two FP7 International Cooperation projects, namely the IncoNet for Eastern Partnership Countries and the IncoNet for Central Asian Countries.

Introducing IUG

1. IUG is an independent & public academic institution located in Gaza city, Palestine.

2. IUG was founded in 1978; it is the 1st university in Gaza Strip and has the largest number of students among all Palestinian Universities.

3. IUG is a home to the well-planned programs, a way to the different community levels and a place for researchers and good teachers.

IUG Vision

To be locally, regionally& internationally recognized for excellence in graduating dedicated professionals & intellectuals whose knowledge, skills & values will serve the local community & humanity.

IUG Mission

1. To provide high quality teaching, learning & research services.

2. To contribute to the development of local community & enhancement of life quality in Gaza & Palestine.

3. To promote universal values & mutual cultural understanding & local, regional, & international dialogue.

IUG Core Values

1. Teaching, research & community service are interrelated

2. We strive to enhance the future wellbeing of people and the environment

3. We promote self-development & life-long learning

4. We value academic freedom and debate

5. We apply collective and team work

6. We promote collaborate with partners, locally & internationally

7. We advocate partnerships with local & external institutions

8. We encourage integrity &transparency

9. We aim to impart morality & high moral standards

10. We encourage critical thinking, responsibility & autonomous learning