Barcelona:The Higher Council for Science and Technology of Jordan participated in the Union for the Mediterranean's Higher Education and Research Week held in Barcelona, Spain. The event focused on scientific cooperation, innovation, and the development of a Mediterranean knowledge space.
According to Jordan News Agency, the council's involvement was led by Assistant Secretary-General for Scientific and Technological Affairs Raed Odeh. He participated in key discussions on research and innovation priorities, academic partnerships, and science diplomacy, aiming to translate Euro-Mediterranean cooperation into initiatives that support sustainable development.
As part of Jordan's co-presidency role in the Union for the Mediterranean, Odeh co-chaired the 32nd meeting of the Research and Innovation Platform with Nienke Buisman, who represented the European co-presidency. This meeting evaluated the progress of the research and innovation agenda, particularly in areas such as health, climate change, and renewable energy.
Odeh highlighted the work of specialized working groups focused on researcher mobility, capacity building, and digital transformation. He also emphasized the achievements of the Open Data and Digital Transformation Working Group, co-chaired by Jordan and Spain, including the development of a policy paper and action plan.
The event also addressed regional expansion strategies and preparations for the 2027 ministerial conference, which will include a draft ministerial declaration and future priorities for scientific cooperation among Mediterranean countries.
In a separate engagement, Odeh spoke at the opening session of the dialogue conference "Co-Building the Mediterranean Knowledge Space." This session explored academic and research partnerships, science diplomacy, and researcher mobility's role in supporting development and community resilience in crisis-affected areas. Discussions also proposed establishing a Mediterranean center for science diplomacy and regional research and innovation centers.
Odeh emphasized the need for scientific cooperation to move beyond policies and recommendations towards concrete initiatives with tangible impacts. He stressed the importance of capacity building, expertise exchange, and expanding research opportunities to address shared challenges and promote knowledge integration across the Mediterranean region.