Research in the Arab World is facing several challenges starting from its underlying environment through to demand and consumption.

1. Arab World Research and R&D
Situational Analysis and
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2. Large disparities exist in research capabilities between Arab World & developed nations
R&D spending in the developed world as a % of GDP is The Arab world's research output per capita is
11 times more than the Arab World substantially lower than that of developed countries
R&D spending % of GDP Published Research per Capita
3.0% 2.7%
2.5%
Circle size shows research
Switzerland
2.0% 1.7%
publication relative to the Arab
1.5% World in international journals per
1.4%
1.5% million population Korea
1.0%
0.5% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% France
0.1% China
0.0%
Americas Europe Asia Oceania Africa Arab Arab Arab Netherlands India
States States States Brazil
Africa Asia Arab World
Many of the funds, institutions and standards necessary Additionally, Arab research is not demand driven or
for a research community are lacking focused on commercialization
Institutional Gap Assessment Research Gaps
Funds to bring
Commercialization
Research Funds
Funds
research to Senior business leaders have many gaps in their
Research Institutions Development and consumers Research Consumers
Research
(Supply)
Commercialization
Product Prototype Linkages to bring (Demand) understanding about the Arab World.
research to
Linkages Linkages
consumers
Research
Corporate funds Corporate R&D Entrepreneurs
Consumers
IP developers
Seed VC, Angels
Universities
Corporations •Academics and
What is it that you 27% 24%
Researchers
Professional least understand Politics Culture
Corporate R&D Industrial Funds
Societies •Business
National labs Technology
Community
about the region?
transfer agencies
Entrepreneurs SME’s 17%
•Government
Govt. SciTech
Business
Tech. transfer
bodies funds To bridge this lack of infrastructure, •The Public 32% Env.
several countries have launched
Govt. industry clustering initiatives Society
departments Late VC, PE •Press
Science
foundations Status
Missing Weak Existing
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3. Research in the Arab World is facing several challenges starting from its underlying
environment through to demand and consumption
Research – Key Findings
Consumption and
Environment, Funding and Institutions
Related Beneficiaries
Infrastructure (Research Supply)
(Research Demand)
Research expenditure comparable to other LDCs, The number of research institutions has grown, but Research output is much less than developed
but much less than developed countries quality does not compare to developed countries countries and innovation is lacking due to applied,
academic focus of the majority of research
Funding comes primarily from government with little Arab universities, critical providers of research, do
Anecdotal evidence suggests there is a research
contribution from the private sector not have sufficient institutional research resources
supply/demand mismatch but little supporting data
Researchers lack funding for collaboration so they There are much fewer social science research
Scholars are not getting the research they need to
pursue international rather than regional linkages centers than S&T research institutions
advance knowledge society
Components of research chain are not fostered The high number of S&T PhD holders may explain
concurrently, including educational systems; Business stakeholders want more information on
lack of research in areas other than applied fields
research institutions; information services; funding; culture, the business environment, and politics
professional societies; and the public.
The brain drain costs the region a huge amount of
Government ministries require research to facilitate
Research culture grows out of entrepreneurship talent that could be utilized in research
reform and service evaluation
with recognition of achievement and appropriate
rewards paired with facilities, time, and resources.
Connectivity between the media and research and
educational institutions is weak
Government regulations and financial incentives to
develop R&D are lacking
Freedom of thought and intellectual property
protection, and the laws to guarantee them, are
primary enabling requirements for quality research.
Legend
Favorable Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
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4. The Arab World has also not implemented a number of the international best
practices in research
Research in Arab World compared to International Best Practices
International Best Practices Current State in the Arab World
Most developed countries’ research funding comes from The private sector contributes 3% to R&D and government
the private sector; for OECD countries 62% is private sector 89%; indicating a need for increased private sector contribution to
investment in R&D R&D
Research is demand driven to promote competitiveness and 90% of research is in applied fields; evidence suggests it is
knowledge/innovation driven development and not demand driven, too academic, and lacks a focus on
commercialization commercialization
Components of R&D continuum, incl. educational systems; Many of the funds and institutions for a research community
research institutions; funding institutions; professional are lacking; there is no institutional connectivity and weak
societies; and the public at large, are fostered concurrently professional bodies
Arab Researchers who lack financial support instead increase
Most industrial countries provide financing to encourage
their level of international collaboration while neglecting
researchers to collaborate internationally and regionally
regional cooperation
Clear policy commitment from national authorities and Regulatory frameworks do not protect intellectual property;
wide public respect for knowledge development support a there is a lack of infrastructure to support entrepreneurship
research culture and innovation
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5. Multiple global external trends are shaping the future and will have major implications
on research in the Arab World
Global External Trends in Research
Global Macro Issues Impact National and Regional Research Agendas Governments Must Set Research Priorities
• Research costs are high and getting higher • Priorities differ from one country to another
• Basic science vs. Applied science • Continuous follow up & evaluation
• Research and Education are strongly coupled (especially graduate education) • Benchmarking (International)
• Building infrastructure in research is a long term investment • Involving stakeholders: Governments, Industry, Agencies
• R&D is a high risk investment
Institutions Must Collaborate and Commit Long Term
Networks and Financing Are a Common Problem • Collaboration nationally, regionally, internationally
• Networking (Database, meetings conferences, etc) • Specialization
• Efficient communication • Integration with other economic initiatives
• Seed project funding • Long term commitment
Nations are Moving Towards Dedicated R&D Programs Outsourcing/Off-shoring of R&D is Growing
• Compatibility with national priorities • On-site or near-site technological support for manufacturing
• Strong Leadership and distribution centers
• Rigorous follow-up and evaluation • Opportunity: local conditions related to manufacturing and
• Important outputs: Human resources training & development other operating licenses may contain local content clauses
• Science and technology development • Cost savings may accrue from using resident talent
Competitiveness Means Centers of Excellence and Clusters Important
• Dedicated Brain-Power Centers
• Unique competencies
• State of the art instrumentation
• Strong International collaborations
• Commercialization strategies (SME, incubators, etc.)
• Human resource development and training
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6. In summary, research in the region faces multiple opportunities and threats
Research SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
• Research expenditure is comparable to that of less developed countries • Limited supply of research, especially in areas such as social science
but much less than developed countries and business
• International collaboration is high due to funding availability • Private sector does little R&D leading to low output and few patents
• Availability of scientists and researchers is higher than developing • Much of research is not innovative and is not published internationally
countries but less than OECD countries and other R&D leaders such as
• 90% of research is in applied fields; however, research is not demand
the US and Japan
driven; evidence of a research supply/demand mismatch
• Governments have procured advanced technology
• Limited funding; Limited regional research collaboration
• Supply does not meet research consumer demand
• Weak government policy making in research and innovation
Opportunities Threats
• Regional collaboration can be increased with travel grants and more • Developed countries’ research funding comes from the private sector
funding
• The number of patents by the Arab world is very low
• Significant international linkages which can be scaled up with more
• Insufficient institutional resources lead to decline in the level of
funding
graduates, which in turn limits research
• Clustering initiatives can fast track development of research
• Funds and institutions necessary for research community are lacking
infrastructure
• Research in universities and associated centers is often too academic
• Commercial opportunities exist in the provision of research that sheds
light on the Arab business environment, politics, culture, and society • The high number of S&T PhD holders may explain the lack of research
in areas other than applied fields
• Brain drain removes talent that could be utilized in research/innovation
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7. Global competitiveness trends necessitate an integrated research strategy that
creates an enabling environment for both basic and applied research
Applied Research (Shorter Term Commercial Focus) Basic Research (Long-Term to Advance Knowledge Capital)
Higher Research Other Organizations –
Private Sector National S&T Education Centers think tanks,
Key Audiences Key Audiences Institutions councils etc.
R&D Facilities Research Centers / Networks
Defining Characteristics Defining Characteristics
Typically carried out by the private sector in developed world,  Universities and government laboratories typically carry out since does not
includes new knowledge that has commercial objectives with have specific immediate commercial objectives
respect to products, processes, or services
Unlikely to receive private sector funding due to long-term focus
Solves practical problems with commercial focus, thus stresses
science and technology to meet specific need
 Future oriented, undertaken to acquire new knowledge without any specific
 Emphasizes projects requiring 10 years or less to develop a application other than the advancement and generation of knowledge
product/process
 Two thirds of global applied R&D is in the ICT, pharmaceutical,  Lays foundation for applied spin-offs that commercialize basic research,
and automotive industries increasingly focused on solving problems of global sustainability
Strategic Rationale for Involvement in Applied Research Strategic Rationale for Involvement in Basic Research
• Very visible • Enriches educational experience
• Mechanism for job creation • Indirectly engages key stakeholders to enact change vision
• Fuels entrepreneurship • Influences and shapes regional agenda
• Builds and solidifies regional competitive advantage • Prioritizes long term and applied research agenda
• Increases awareness of Dubai Model while establishing
region’s role as an innovation leader on world stage
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8. The situation analysis revealed a number of takeaways and priorities
Focus Areas Applied Research Basic Research
Key Takeaway: Researchers not commercially oriented Key Takeaway: University research skills weak and focused
and universities graduating low quality students primarily in science and technology fields
Human Capital
& Skills  Focus Area Description: Develop commercial researchers in key  Focus Area Description: Produce researchers in basic research fields
science and technology sectors; improve graduates to enable outside S&T; stall brain drain; professional development and research
advanced research skills training to institutionalize research culture
Key Takeaways: Little collaboration between private Key Takeaway: Researchers lack connectivity to facilitate
sector and universities to shape research agenda cooperation
Collaboration
 Focus Area Description: Networked firms and universities are  Focus Area Description: A robust system of national and international
& Connectivity essential to innovation systems and to facilitate entrepreneurship; linkages among practitioners
Arabs abroad promote skills transfer and commercial opportunity
Key Takeaways: Weak R&D/innovation infrastructure; Key Takeaways: University research centers in target fields
Few multinationals have regional R&D centers in region; are few and do not have access to critical resources;
Infrastructure Lack of commercialization funding and private funds Funding is low; Professional societies and research centers
& Resources too weak to define research agendas
 Focus Area Description: All components of the R&D continuum
(incl. Funding) need to be fostered; Attract multinationals to establish facilities;  Focus Area Description: Increasing the number of university social
Promoting increased private sector R&D funding; Funding science and basic research centers with world class facilities
university and industry research collaboration
Key Takeaways: Lack of innovation incentives and Key Takeaways: Lack of innovation incentives and
recognition of research achievements recognition of research achievements
Recognition
& Incentives  Focus Area description: Financial incentives to promote private  Focus Area Description: Incentives for cutting edge basic research
sector R&D and innovation systems
Key Takeaways: Patents are few and commercialization Key Takeaways: Regional coauthorship is rare; little Arab
Dissemination system and linkages are weak research is cited internationally due to lack of journals
(Publishing /
 Focus Area Description: Expanding the volume of patentable  Focus Area Description: Increased coauthorship and expanded
Citation /
technologies; increased emphasis on commercialization funds and international relationships; Increased publishing in refereed international
Commercialization)
linkages critical to innovation system journals and initiating regional journals
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