Prof. Mashhoor Al-Refai, Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, met with the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Amman, Tselane Mokuena, to discuss prospects for cooperation in the fields of science and technology, as well as the development of partnerships in scientific research and innovation. Also present at the meeting were the Assistant Secretary-General for Scientific and Technological Affairs, Dr. Ra’ed Awdeh, the Director of the Scientific Research and Innovation Support Fund, Prof. Tareq Mukattash, and the Director of the International Cooperation Department, Eng. Rasha Smadi.
اضافة اعلان
At the outset of the meeting, Prof. Al-Refai highlighted the deep ties between the two friendly nations and the Higher Council’s commitment to forging links with counterpart institutions in South Africa, exchanging expertise, and leveraging international experience in innovation management and scientific research.
Al-Refai outlined the Council’s key programs, initiatives, and activities, highlighting the transfer of the Scientific Research and Innovation Support Fund to its purview. He noted the opportunities this creates to foster institutional integration and advance the national research and innovation ecosystem, while placing special emphasis on building effective partnerships with both local and international industrial sectors.
Al-Refai outlined the initiative to support students in Gaza through the Al-Hassan Learning Platform and the courses it offers, in collaboration with the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Palestinian Ministry of Education, and several universities in the Gaza Strip.
The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of developing effective mechanisms for technology transfer and the commercialization of scientific research outputs, through licensing agreements, business incubators, and joint ventures with the industrial sector, thereby contributing to the transformation of innovation into productive economic value.
For her part, the Ambassador expressed her pleasure at visiting the Council, commending its excellent reputation within local and international scientific circles and highlighting the importance of coordinating to launch fruitful cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.
The Ambassador emphasized the importance of the Council establishing links with counterpart institutions in South Africa—sharing similar objectives and operational mechanisms—and highlighted the need to focus on strengthening connections between universities, research centers, and the industrial sector, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and modern technologies.
The two parties also discussed mechanisms for funding joint research projects, explored opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, and considered the possibility of concluding a memorandum of understanding to frame this cooperation and establish a long-term strategic partnership between the HCST and its counterparts in South Africa.
