Scientific Research and Scientific Research and Technology Management:Technology Management:

An Imperative for the Arab WorldAn Imperative for the Arab World

Samer RifaiSamer Rifai

Arab School for Science and Technology (ASST)Arab School for Science and Technology (ASST)

Damascus – SyriaDamascus – Syria

asst@net.syasst@net.sy

WIPO / IDB Regional Seminar on Intellectual Property and Technology TransferRiyadh 4-6 June 2007

IntroductionIntroduction

Old challenges.Old challenges.

New challenges:New challenges: Globalization.Globalization. Knowledge-based economy.Knowledge-based economy.

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1

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6

7

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1950 1990 2000 2010 2020

Importance of R&DImportance of R&D

Characteristics of R&D in the Arab World.Characteristics of R&D in the Arab World.

Characteristics of the Arab World economies.Characteristics of the Arab World economies.

Importance of investing in R&DImportance of investing in R&D

Characteristics of R&D Characteristics of R&D in the Arab Worldin the Arab World

Inputs:Inputs: Budgets and investmentsBudgets and investments

Human resourcesHuman resources

InfrastructureInfrastructure

Budgets and InvestmentBudgets and Investment

1.7

2.3

1.0

0.1

R&D expenditures as % of GDP

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimations, December 2004, European Trend Chart 2005

World

Developing countries

Less dev. countries

Developed countries

2.7

1.7

1.5

1.4

0.3

Americas

Asia

Africa

Europe

Oceania

0.1

0.2

0.2All Arab States

Arab States Asia

Arab States Africa

0.2

0.2

0.5

0.7

0.8

1.0

4.9

4.0

3.5

3.2

2.6

2.6

1.9

1.3

Israel

Finland

Japan

Sweden

USA

Germany

UK

China

Brazil (2000)

India (2000-2001)

Turkey (2002)

Tunisia (2001-2002)

Egypt (2001-2002)

Syria (2001-2002)

Israel

Finland

Japan

Sweden

USA

Germany

UK

China

Brazil (2000)

India (2000-2001)

Turkey (2002)

Tunisia (2001-2002)

Egypt (2001-2002)

Syria (2001-2002)

Regions, 2002 Selected Countries, 2003

Most R&D financing is sourced from public sectorMost R&D financing is sourced from public sector

* For the year 1996** For the year 2004

Source: Adapted from ESCWA-UNESCO, 1998, OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard, 2005

in % of Total

Syria*

Arab countries*

Average OECD**

100%

Government Industry Other

24

18

30

89

83

74

75

62

3

0

1

7

8

8

17

100%

100%

100%

100%

Japan**

Korea**

Human Resources and InfrastructureHuman Resources and Infrastructure

Moderate quality of scientists certified from Moderate quality of scientists certified from Arab Universities.Arab Universities.

Brain drain: > 200,000 Scientists left the Arab Brain drain: > 200,000 Scientists left the Arab World in the last 30 years.World in the last 30 years.

Existing institutions dealing with R&D are Existing institutions dealing with R&D are poorly staffed and funded.poorly staffed and funded.

Outputs of R&D in the Arab WorldOutputs of R&D in the Arab World

Economic impact.Economic impact.

Patents.Patents.

Published scientific papers.Published scientific papers.

Number of patents registered in the US from Arab and non-Arab countries during the period 1980-2000Number of patents registered in the US from Arab and non-Arab countries during the period 1980-2000

Arab countriesArab countriesOther countriesOther countries

CountryCountryNo. of PatentsNo. of PatentsCountryCountryNo. of PatentsNo. of Patents

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia 171171KoreaKorea 16,32816,328

EgyptEgypt 7777IsraelIsrael 7,6527,652

KuwaitKuwait 5252ChileChile 147147

UAEUAE3232

JordanJordan 1515

SyriaSyria 1010

BahrainBahrain 66

OmanOman 55

YemenYemen 22    

Source: Arab Human Development Report 2003Source: Arab Human Development Report 2003

Published Scientific PapersPublished Scientific Papers

Less than 1% of the total published papers:Less than 1% of the total published papers: 26 papers/M in 1995: increased 2.4 times / 198126 papers/M in 1995: increased 2.4 times / 1981 11 times in China and 24 times in Korea11 times in China and 24 times in Korea

Moderate quality: poor content in basic Moderate quality: poor content in basic sciences.sciences.

Publications for Promotion.Publications for Promotion.

Characteristics of the Arab World Characteristics of the Arab World EconomiesEconomies

Low economic diversityLow economic diversity Low growth rateLow growth rate Unemployment: the highest in the world! Unemployment: the highest in the world! Leakage of main growth factors:Leakage of main growth factors:

Brain DrainBrain Drain CapitalsCapitals

Products with very low added valueProducts with very low added value

Importance of investing in R&DImportance of investing in R&D

Some Developing Countries became New Some Developing Countries became New Industrialized Countries (NICs).Industrialized Countries (NICs).

Foresights and Objectives/Targets.Foresights and Objectives/Targets.

Examples: Korea, China, Malaysia, Brazil, Examples: Korea, China, Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Ireland and Argentina, South Africa, Ireland and Finland… Finland…

Importance of investing in R&DImportance of investing in R&D

Industrial progress through technological breakthrough.Industrial progress through technological breakthrough.

Economical Growth through Technological Growth.Economical Growth through Technological Growth.

New Growth TheoryNew Growth Theory: : Economic growth directly related to technology and capitals.Economic growth directly related to technology and capitals.

Knowledge-Based EconomyKnowledge-Based Economy

>50% of >50% of historical growth in per capita income in historical growth in per capita income in USA is related to technological advancement.USA is related to technological advancement.

>50% of GDP is knowledge-based in OECD >50% of GDP is knowledge-based in OECD countries.countries.

43% of Ireland exportations are knowledge-based.43% of Ireland exportations are knowledge-based.

National Innovation System (NIS)National Innovation System (NIS)

S&T policyS&T policy

R&D strategyR&D strategy

Win-WinWin-Win

Research Institutes

Universities

OTHERSInvestors

Industries

NIS ComponentsNIS Components::

InputsPolicies&

Strategies

Outputs

NISObjectives

EconomicResources

Imported & developedtechnologies

Codes & Regulations

Knowledge, Technology, Products, Skills ..Evaluation Evaluation

&& Feedback Feedback

What kind of InnovationWhat kind of Innovation??

Radical InnovationRadical Innovation

Incremental InnovationIncremental Innovation

Technology Technology ManagementManagement

Technology Acquisition:Technology Acquisition:

Transfer of TechnologyTransfer of Technology

Implementation of TechnologyImplementation of Technology

Production of TechnologyProduction of Technology

Transfer of Technology ManagementTransfer of Technology Management

External Transfer of TechnologyExternal Transfer of Technology Selection. Selection. Licensing, Strategic Alliances, Technical Licensing, Strategic Alliances, Technical

Assistance …Assistance … Application.Application.

Internal Transfer of TechnologyInternal Transfer of Technology Failed in the Arab WorldFailed in the Arab World: Problems in NIS.: Problems in NIS.

Implementation of Technology Implementation of Technology ManagementManagement

Better understandingBetter understanding

Improve the product or the processImprove the product or the process

Reverse Engineering and Local DevelopmentReverse Engineering and Local Development

Production of Technology Production of Technology ManagementManagement

New Competitive ProductNew Competitive Product

Advanced stageAdvanced stage

Mature NIS:Mature NIS: R&D&I + Industry + Budget + HR + IP + R&D&I + Industry + Budget + HR + IP +

Alliances + Marketing Alliances + Marketing

Technology Technology ManagementManagement

NNational Policy for Science and Technologyational Policy for Science and Technology:: Define Axes: ICT, Biotech., Nanotech., New Define Axes: ICT, Biotech., Nanotech., New

Materials …Materials … Weak and Strong Points.Weak and Strong Points. Opportunities and Threats.Opportunities and Threats.

Define the R&D&I structureDefine the R&D&I structure..

Remarks regarding the Transfer and Remarks regarding the Transfer and Implementation of TechnologyImplementation of Technology

Transfer of Technology evaluation:Transfer of Technology evaluation: How to measure transferred Technology? How to measure transferred Technology? Critical factor: Capacity to contain/integrate technology.Critical factor: Capacity to contain/integrate technology.

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-10

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5

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15

20

25

30

MeadleEast

SouthAmerica

EastAssia

WestAssia

Indust.Coutries

Contribution of Technical Progress to Economic Growth (1960-1992))World Bank(

Contribution as %of Total Growth

ConditionsConditions for Successful for Successful Implementation of TechnologyImplementation of Technology

Qualified and skilled Human Resources.Qualified and skilled Human Resources.

Adequate financing: Venture capital.Adequate financing: Venture capital.

Codes and Regulations.Codes and Regulations.

Adequate environment.Adequate environment.

High education in mother language.High education in mother language.

R&D&I NetworksR&D&I Networks

Importance:Importance: Multidiscipline / Multi-sectorsMultidiscipline / Multi-sectors Creating critical mass of qualified personsCreating critical mass of qualified persons Improve R&D activities and productsImprove R&D activities and products Sharing Cost, Risks and BenefitsSharing Cost, Risks and Benefits Avoid duplicate effortsAvoid duplicate efforts Decrease time in developing new productsDecrease time in developing new products

R&D Networks Versus R&D Networks Versus R&D&I NetworksR&D&I Networks

R&D NetworksR&D Networks Pre competitive Pre competitive

R&D&I NetworksR&D&I Networks CompetitiveCompetitive::

Technological Technological cooperationcooperation

ManufacturingManufacturing MarketingMarketing

Arab R&D&I NetworksArab R&D&I Networks

Nothing in the pastNothing in the past

Nothing NowNothing Now

Imperative in the futureImperative in the future

Scopes of PriorityScopes of Priority

Water DesalinationWater Desalination

AgricultureAgriculture

New MaterialsNew Materials

Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

Dry Areas of the World

AgricultureAgriculture Strategic field crops.Strategic field crops.

New adapted varieties:New adapted varieties: Irrigated Wheat: 1.9 Ton/Hectar to 4.2 Ton/Hectar Irrigated Wheat: 1.9 Ton/Hectar to 4.2 Ton/Hectar Rain-fed Wheat: 0.7 Ton/Hectar to 1.5 Ton/Hectar Rain-fed Wheat: 0.7 Ton/Hectar to 1.5 Ton/Hectar

Application of Biological and integrated Control.Application of Biological and integrated Control.

New MaterialsNew Materials

New technologies.New technologies.

New raw materials.New raw materials.

Environmental regulations to be respected.Environmental regulations to be respected.

Necessity to improve high education and R&D.Necessity to improve high education and R&D.

Renewable EnergiesRenewable Energies

Oil will not last for ever.Oil will not last for ever.

Clean Energy:Clean Energy: PhotovoltaicPhotovoltaic

Mechanisms to Enhance Implementation Mechanisms to Enhance Implementation of Technology in the Arab Worldof Technology in the Arab World

Prospecting the futureProspecting the future Filling the gap in the NIS structureFilling the gap in the NIS structure Providing the proper financing mechanismsProviding the proper financing mechanisms Human Resource developmentHuman Resource development Codes & RegulationsCodes & Regulations Promote all kind of cooperationPromote all kind of cooperation

Thank youThank you