Damascus-Sana
Under the title “Towards a knowledge economy… the role of Syrian researchers in the homeland and the diaspora” today, at the headquarters of the Higher Commission for Scientific Research in Damascus, the works of the second scientific conference for Syrian expatriate researchers 2020, organized by the Commission “remotely” in cooperation and partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Network of Scientists, Technologists, Innovators and Innovators Syrians in the diaspora "Nostia", the Planning and International Cooperation Authority, the Arab School for Science and Technology, and the Syrian Scientific Society for Informatics.
The conference, which is attended by local and expatriate Syrian researchers from 15 countries and with various disciplines of scientific and technological research and various fields of knowledge, aims to establish effective research and applied partnerships between Syrian researchers in the homeland and the diaspora, where they discuss, over a period of three days, a number of scientific issues dealing with the axes of information technology, communication and technology management. Knowledge, biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy technology and the environment.
Participants in the sessions of the first day of the conference discussed a number of scientific issues related to information and communication technology, technology and knowledge management, such as the role of cybersecurity in protecting the knowledge economy, developing the performance of video surveillance systems using machine learning methods, designing computer-assisted facial restorations, manufacturing them using 3D printing and applying intelligence algorithms. Al-Sanai in controlling the drone squadron in addition to other issues focused on the importance of laying modern foundations for development and attracting internal and external investments in light of modern concepts of land management and harnessing modern technologies and sciences in serving these concepts and the latest methods used in the automation and collection of electronic bills and raising the efficiency of lower prostheses .
The participants called for work to restore the migratory human capital, whether before or during the war, to give them real opportunities to lead technical production teams, link them to an appropriate wage system, enact a set of laws that support production in the software industry, and focus on leading individual technical initiatives and support and investing the resources that have achieved and achieved centers Advanced in technical competitions, the dedication of the experience of the National Center for Excellence and the experience of the Excellence and Creativity Commission, which focuses on human resources from early stages and merges them with the technical incubator that recommends forming its core starting from the platform of the Syrian Scientific Society for Informatics.
The participants also stressed the need to work to increase interest in information and communication security and to expand education, training and higher education, and to take into account the requirements of transferring, disseminating and generating knowledge through curricula development, training teachers and professors, and adopting specialized programs to increase their efforts in research and development, develop entrepreneurship and innovation among university students, practical knowledge skills and increase spending on Scientific research, development and innovation to reach the ranks of developed countries and improve the quality of education to keep pace with the labor market.
The participants pointed out the importance of developing the land management sector in the reconstruction by setting a clear vision and taking informed decisions within a road map based on a comprehensive feasibility study and benefiting from global experiences that have proven that the government interest and investment in developing the land management sector gives a basic pillar for development and guarantees huge returns for the treasury. Country.
In his speech during the opening of the conference, Dr. Bassam Ibrahim, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the caretaker government, said that organizing the conference in its virtual "remote" format is evidence of the insistence of our researchers and our research and scientific institutions to proceed in the path of research and development and their ability to adapt to the most difficult circumstances, indicating the importance of strengthening Means of communication between Syrian researchers in the homeland and the diaspora in order to establish research partnerships that benefit in the stage of recovery and reconstruction, in addition to introducing young Syrian researchers in the countries of expatriation and seeing their many scientific achievements and their qualitative experiences.
Majd Al-Jamali, Director General of the Higher Commission for Scientific Research, said in his speech that the conference comes after the first conference that was held last year, and during the coming period, virtual specialized seminars will be organized in important sectors such as economy, environment, energy, health, agriculture and others, in participation with Syrian researchers everywhere, indicating that The authority is currently supporting a number of research projects in implementation of the National Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation and in response to requests submitted by the relevant ministries.
Dr. Ibrahim Shuaib, Secretary of the Arab School for Science and Technology, stated in his speech that the school is participating in organizing the conference as part of its vision to support efforts to develop scientific research in Syria and the necessity for integration of efforts and cooperation between researchers inside Syria and in the diaspora, pointing out that the school is a non-profit Arab scientific body established in Damascus in the year 1978 includes scientific and research institutions from Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, and aims to support scientific and technical cooperation efforts in the Arab world, especially in applied fields that can play an important role in economic and social development.
Dr. Salah Al-Dowah Ji, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Syrian Scientific Society for Informatics explained that the current circumstances require the activation of many forms of connectivity and partnerships that depend heavily on the use of technology and the Internet, which have become widespread in the fields of teaching and learning, pointing out that the association will provide everything necessary to proceed with this The trend will work to activate the periodic participation of Syrian researchers in the diaspora and link them with their colleagues on the homeland.
In a speech on the Internet, Minister Plenipotentiary, Director of the Expatriates Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Rania Al-Rifai, affirmed that the ministry has attached great importance to the Syrian expatriates through the decisions and instructions that it issues on a permanent basis to keep pace with their needs and constantly strives to provide facilities for them in their motherland and to enhance their communication with their families and benefit from the strength Their potentials and work through them to improve the nation’s relationship with the countries in which they reside. The expatriates also have an important role in redrawing the cultural stereotype about Syria through their role in clarifying the reality of the terrorist acts that the country is exposed to that aims to destabilize security and stability in it.
In a similar speech, Dr. Yasser Midani, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Network of Syrian Scientists, Technologists and Innovators in the Diaspora "Nostia" considered that organizing the conference in light of the current circumstances is a challenge in order to raise the voice of Syria and its position at the international and scientific levels, rebuild it and enhance its food and drug security, expressing her hope that The expatriates cooperate with all research institutions in Syria and with private companies to serve the reconstruction phase.
Dr. Imad Al-Sabouni, Chairman of the Planning and International Cooperation Authority, pointed out in a speech on the Internet that the National Program for Post-War Syria aims to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the state and society to address the effects of the crisis, get out of war, face current and future challenges and restore development paths, indicating that the issues of transformation into a knowledge economy fall under Under a set of headings, including building the education system, innovation and scientific research, digital transformation strategy, building a business environment, enhancing competitiveness, protecting intellectual and industrial property, and managing quality.
The first scientific conference for expatriate Syrian researchers focused last year on four main axes in the medical, pharmaceutical, engineering, advanced technologies, environment, natural resources, energy, economic sphere and infrastructure development. At its conclusion, the participants recommended the necessity to institutionalize the process of cooperation between scientific research bodies and the productive and service sectors between them on the one hand and between Syrian expatriate researchers on the other hand.
Hailah Al Hindi and Sakina Muhammad