Premium
Scientific system in the A rab region: From prestige towards development
Author(s) -
ElObeidy Ahmed
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
regional science policy and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.342
H-Index - 8
ISSN - 1757-7802
DOI - 10.1111/j.1757-7802.2012.01089.x
Subject(s) - prestige , leverage (statistics) , rab , developing country , work (physics) , political science , business , public relations , economic growth , engineering , economics , computer science , philosophy , linguistics , mechanical engineering , gtpase , biochemistry , chemistry , machine learning
Purpose of science and technology ( ST ) in A rab countries is far from nourishing socio‐economic development. The activities of ST in A rab countries were directed for prestige and propaganda rather than into socio‐economic development. A rab countries have not produced a critical mass of full time equivalent researchers. The weaknesses of the national ST systems in the A rab region have drastically reduced the benefits derived from the investments made in economic infrastructure. The A rab countries need to adopt strategies to improve their ST capabilities in ways that promote the technological development necessary for sustained economic growth. A rab countries should not blindly imitate other countries, but should identify and leverage their own unique resources. All universities and research institutes in the region need to be re‐envisioned. Research institute and university activities need to be market‐driven. Initiatives targeting the networking between research and industry need to be developed. Monitoring the state of ST becomes a major challenge for the A rab countries in their endeavours for developing knowledge based economy. Each A rab country needs to establish and run its own ST national observatory. A proper ethics monitoring system needs to be developed. Developing and activating ethical code and strengthening research ethics committees will improve monitoring ethical issues which may arise in the course of work by the academic staff in the universities and research institutes. However, an ethics monitoring system needs to be kept rigorously outside the control of ST institutes.