Arab Expatriate Scientists and the

Science and Technology

Revolution in the Arab World

Shaker A. Mousa, PhD, MBA, FACC, FACB

Pharmaceutical Research Institute (PRI)

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

PRI –

Discovery /

Development

Partnerships, Collaboration, ..

Technology

Integrations

Nanotechnology

Stem Cell

Therapy

Enabling Technologies: R & D

Biotechnology

Bioinformatics

Pharmacotherapy

Time

Nanotechnology - Accelerated

Impacts

Industrial Revolutions

Molecular

Manufacturing

Revolution

The combined impacts of nanotechnology will equal the Industrial Revolutions of the last

two centuries — but with all that change compressed into just a few years

PRI

Start-Up

Biotech

Companies

(NY)

Ordway /

AMC

Roswell

Park

SUNY

(Albany,

Buffalo)

Rensselare

Polytechnic

University

Rochester

and U.

Syracuse

Cornell

University /

Columbia

Sloan

Katering

Partnerships Between PRI and Other

Academic/Biotech Institutes in NY State

PRI

Johns

Hopkins

University

University of

Pennsylvania,

Temple Univ.

Harvard

University,

Northwestern,

Northeaster

University of

Wisconsin, UNC,

Duke Univ.

Germany,

France,

Denmark,

Australia

Partnerships Between PRI and Academic Institutes in USA & Worldwide

University of

Toronto

Egypt, Saudi

Arabia, UAE,

Kuwait,

South Korea,

Japan, India

PRI

Galaxo

Smith

Kline

Leo Pharma

& Pharmion

Co.

DuPont,

Merck

Pfizer

Othera,

TransMolecular

SelectX

Partnerships Between PRI and Biotech / Pharma in

USA & Worldwide

Sanofi

Aventis

Astra Zenca Emisphere,

Cytogel, Takeda

Society of the advancement of science

and technology in the Arab world

Mission: To mobilize and catalyze the engagement of scientists, professionals, NGO’s, academic institutions and professional societies to advance higher education, science and research in Arab countries.

SASTA will seek to achieve these objectives by the followings:

Developing and maintaining a comprehensive database of Arab expatriate and scientists in the Arab world

Establishing partnerships with universities, professional societies, and industries in and outside the region.

Developing programs to help train local students and scientist in specific research areas of special importance to their local society needs and/or national priorities

Promote science based programs on sustainable economic development and establish a cooperation of sustainable science and technology between academic institutions, industry and government.

SASTA: Current Projects

At the Individual Level Young Arab Graduate Network.

Objective: To reach out to Arab college graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate education in or outside the region and provide them with a “user-friendly” guidance tools and support mechanisms.

At the Institutional Level Adopt a University

Objective: To bring to bear the knowledge, experiences, resources and global networks of AES to promote excellence in higher education and scientific R&D in academic institutions in the Arab World.

At the government level The AES-Moroccan initiative (A Pilot Case Study).

Objective: To develop a model for AES partnership with relevant government agencies to promote higher education, S&T in the region

At the regional level Database of Arab Expatriate Scientists

Objective: Towards developing a regional strategy for research, science and technology

AES-Arab League

Objective: Develop strategies for effective research initiatives that utilize the resources and expertise in the different Arab countries to advance science and technology and economic development in the region.

STA: Adopt a University Program

An interdisciplinary group of AES scientists will volunteer their time and services and work closely to assist a selected university from the region to achieve specific objectives aimed at advancing the university’s strategic goals of establishing and/or enhancing educational and research programs.

SASTA and its members are prepared to assist institutions within the region with the following tasks

1. Institutional and/or departmental Accreditation

2. Strategic planning and preparing grants for national and/or regional funding agencies

3. Facilitate networking and collaboration with international institutions and funding agencies

4. Developing graduate programs

5. Developing and delivering special courses in emerging fields

6. Training of students

hosting students and faculty at the AES home institution/laboratory

Local workshops for graduate students

7. Organizing special conferences and workshops on topics of national interest and/or of interest to local faculty.

8. Serving as members of advisory groups and institutional committee

Regional co-operation and capacity building for building

knowledge-based societies in the Arab region

States such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE with major educational initiatives

should coordinate and develop national capabilities and regional competitiveness in

science and technology.

Identify economically important and regionally relevant research areas to focus on

Regional funding schemes similar to the framework programs developed by the

European Union that support research and address common challenges and

opportunities.

Regional diabetes research center to tackle the high prevalence of diabetes in

the region

State-of-the-art energy research and development center because of the

region's vast energy resources.

Link local and regional institutions to international networks and funding schemes

The international research community should support the MENA countries to

advance progress through science and technology.

Doha 2007

World Economic Forum, Jordan 2009

"Home-grown Strategies for Global Success"

Azhar

JUST

Arab League

Conference of Arab Expatriate

Scientists in Cairo 2012

Natural Products – Data base, Bioactive

ingredients, Screening, Nanotechnology, IP,

Commercialization

ITC and Health

Energy and Renewable Energy

Team Buildup including local Arab Scientists and AES

Time

Nanotechnology - Accelerated

Impacts

Industrial Revolutions

Molecular

Manufacturing

Revolution

The combined impacts of nanotechnology will equal the Industrial Revolutions of the last

two centuries — but with all that change compressed into just a few years

Nutraceuticals

Diagnosis

Prevention

&

Treatment

Nanopharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals

Aspirin

Warfarin

Digoxin

Heparin

Taxol

Statins

Taxol, Imaging targets

?

Nano-

Nutraceuticals

Commercializing

Discoveries: Disclosing

your Intellectual Property

IP Protection

Guiding Principles Home grown strategies focused on educational excellence (K-12 and

up), scholarship and innovation

Excellence in higher education and research Knowledge-based Societies Economic development and prosperity

Need for world class institutions capable of preparing generations that can compete in the global economy

Regional coordination and Cooperation is crucial for the success of educational and research initiatives The most important asset in the region remains its people, both at home and in the Diaspora

Partnership with international academic institutions.

The AES can play an important role in reversing the Brain Drain to

Brain Gain

Take home messages

The state of underdevelopment in the Arab countries can not be justified based on national GDP

Reforming the educational system and building world class universities and centers of excellence is essential for economic development and competing in the global economy

Academic freedom is a key catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship

Sustainable development and political stability requires investing in improving the quality of education and living standards in poor countries in the region.

Coherent strategy, common purpose, coordination and competition are all necessary elements for success in Education and Research.

All countries in the region (poor and rich) have a great deal to gain by building on existing strengths, complementary resources and capabilities, capitalizing on opportunities and investing in the next generations.

Arab Diaspora represent untapped potential that could contribute to achieving all these objectives.

A person’s performance depends on skill

and motivation / morals

Performance = Skill x Motivation/Moral

Laboratory experiments have

proved that other things being equal, performance level is higher if motivation level is higher.