Dr. Maamoun Abo Helou, from Al-Istiqlal University and as a representative of the Palestinian National Committee for Education, Culture and Science participated in the consultative meeting for the establishment of the Islamic Observatory for Science, Technology and Innovation, in cooperation between ISESCO and the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in coordination with the Supreme Council for Science and Technology, For Education, Culture and Science in the Jordanian capital Amman over two days last week.
The aim of the meeting was to establish an Islamic observatory for science, technology and innovation to monitor and analyze the developments and challenges in science, technology and innovation in the member states. Action plan of the Observatory was also discussed, through the meeting, which included the requirements for its establishment and the exchange of experiences among the participating member states from Malaysia, , Libya, Egypt, Palestine and Jordan, as well as a representative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
The first day of the meeting included several sessions on the Islamic Observatory for Science, Technology and Innovation which presented the challenges and opportunities in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states and the ways to overcome the obstacles. The second day included the action plan and future expectations for the establishment of the Islamic Observatory In the field of science, technology and innovation, with identifying the priorities, needs and mechanisms of assistance to Member States in activating the scientific observatories they operate in their countries.
Dr. Maamoun Abo Helou, in turn, presented the Palestine's experience in promoting and supporting creativity and innovation, indicating the role of governmental and non-governmental institutions in this field, stressing that despite all the challenges in Palestine, according to the financial stalemate and the reduction of the provision of modern communication technologies, investment in the Palestinian mind, the promotion of awareness and the knowledge- economy are priorities set by the National Policy Plan 2020-2017.
For her part, Ms. Aisha Bamoun, the official of the Islamic Science and Technology Sector, said that the final document of the meeting will be presented to the Ninth Consultative Council for the Implementation of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Islamic Countries, which will be held at the ISESCO headquarters in Rabat in June 2019 and to the Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research which will be held in Pakistan in 2019.