HRH Princess Sumayya Al Hassan presented opening remarks at a two-day strategic planning workshop held in partnership with the USAID-funded Sustainable Achievement of Business Expansion and Quality program (SABEQ), which began on March 5, 2007. The focus of the workshop, provided to the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) management, explored how the RSS could enhance its competitiveness as a specialized scientific and technological base for Jordan and the Middle East region.
The objectives of the workshop centered on how to re-position the RSS and its mission in alignment with the National Agenda as disclosed last year by His Majesty King Abdullah II, by creating a knowledge based economy in Jordan. Much of the work and strategies determined in the workshop, included actions on how to engage middle management to play a critical role in the RSS’s change process. Participants in the workshop also agreed on several strategic directions and actions on the short, medium and long term. In conjunction with Princess Sumayya University and the Higher Council, one of the actions determined was to move forward with ambitious collaborative initiatives in the near future. Follow up support provided by SABEQ program includes technical assistance centered on encouraging the budding sector of Research and Development (R&D), streamlining the RSS procedures to assist and protect Jordanian innovators and assist in increasing Jordan’s regional competitiveness as a whole on the scientific and technology front.
RSS and SABEQ, Page 2 of 2
Established in 1970, RSS is the largest applied research institution, consultation and technical service provider in Jordan, with more than 600 members of staff. There are seven technical centers and departments housing 38 specialized research laboratories, which offer both the public and private sectors unique resources and a wide range of project implementation expertise.
The Princess Sumaya University for Technology, which is an affiliate of RSS, was established in 1991 as a national centre of excellence in IT education. It offers degrees in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering. It has plans to expand into Animation, Computer Information Systems (CIS), and Management Information Systems (MIS).
The USAID-funded SABEQ program is a five year broad economic development initiative implemented by BearingPoint, Inc. and a sizeable team of international and Jordanian partner firms, supporting improvements in the business environment and providing assistance to expand innovation and productivity in Jordanian businesses.
