WIPO Conference on Building Partnership for Mobilizing Resources for Development Geneva, 5-6 November 2009 Abdalla A. Alnajjar, Ph.D. President Arab Science.

WIPO Conference on

Building Partnership for Mobilizing Resources for Development

Geneva, 5-6 November 2009

Abdalla A. Alnajjar, Ph.D.PresidentArab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF)www.astf.net

Hardship all the way for Tech Commercialization

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www.aashabbio.com6 Products for the innovation

ABOU FOUL, KHEDR SOBHY Agriculture Engineer

Policy; Working in an entity that does not support R&D not have Patent policyFunds; No Gov Funds nor Industry supportProtection; lack of How, Where, Language barrierCulture; does not accept releasing of inventions!!Commercialization; Licensing or Start-upProductization & Registration; the country procedures structured to import products

Pub. No: WO/2009/093079Int. Application no.: PCT/GB2009/050063

TTO can contribute to Development

• By positioning the labs on niche sectors of vital interest to the region and to the world ( renewable energy, water, health care, ICT…)

• By valuing Research Results in University labs• By creating better framework for IP protection and enforcement, • By good IP protection raise LP/VC interest and give confidence &

reputation• By selecting team of entrepreneurs with complementary

background ( technology + Management)• By securing appropriate funding at early stages, BA particularly • By securing commercialization or acquisition of technology through

Technology Transfer/Licensing agreements,

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The Case of Developing Countries• In Arabia, as an example for developing world, IP still passes more or less as a technical non-issue

primarily of interest to a few experts. We need WIPO to help us change that. So far, IP has been largely looked upon from a legal perspective (Lawyers), while Arab scientists and even entrepreneurs know very little about intellectual property.

• I think a multidisciplinary perspective (one that looks at it as a strategic asset more than a legal framework) is needed to turn IP into a tool for economic, social and cultural prosperity.

• Shortage on Government plans to help people to understand the value of patents

• Application for patents is very expensive and require specialized agencies that are not handy to applicants.

• High costs that are not affordable to scientists; many months salaries.

• Even before applying for patents there is no organization that helps the researcher to make patents search for them, and if there is they are again very expensive with a low quality.

• Most of peoples who works as patents searchers in the GCC, for example, cannot read or speak perfect English and non-who can read German, French or other European languages (Language Barrier).

• The path forward (after patenting) is not understood nor clear. No Commercialization skills; prototype, license, startup.

• It is not a rewarding process.

• IP and TT requires dedicated bodies and efforts which does not exist in developing world countries or is not set for the mission. 4

Academic Technology Transfer

First Milestone

- Open ASTF office in Tunis to manage the program

- Hiring World known specialists from AUTM and LES

- Official support of WIPO- First workshop for technology transfer in

Fes, Morocco

Aim- Establish 10 offices for technology

transfer in Arab countries- Raising awareness on IP laws and

rights in both universities and companies in the region

- Guide research contracts from industry towards universities

- Helping the commercialization of Arab research breakthrough

- Creating local Experts in intellectual properties : diligence & transfer

- Upgrading technology of Arab industry through gaining technology from inside and outside region.

Sample ProjectSample Project

Technology Transfer Office provide services for effective and efficient commercialization of innovations, inventions and research findings.

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Academia

R&DCenters

Industry

S&T Parks

Incubators

Government

PlannedExisting

Inv. In Tech.

Forum

Start-ups Support

IP Licensing

Technology

Investment

VC Seed Fund

Pilot

Market

Bridging

Inv in Tech Website

Tech BP Comp

Made in Arabia

IncubatorsComp.

Innovation

Extraction

Patents Catalogue

Tech Trans. O.

Industry BP C

Feasibility S.

Support

Grants Progra

m

Comm. &

Networks

Core

Activiti

es

R&D Activiti

es

ASTF Innovation Model

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Programs initiated Launched in passed 4 months

• 2010 L’Oreal-UNESCO Pan-Arab Regional Fellowship.

(Starting with Egypt, SA, Tunis, and Kuwait and UAE)[email protected]

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• Raising Entrepreneurship Skills (Sponsored by Intel, to train 30,000 in SA, Jordan, Egypt,

Tunis and Morocco. University Students and 20,000 School-Teachers) Supported by Intel International

http://reyada.astf.net

• Industrial Startup Arab WorldFinals on the 18th of Nov. from 7 Arab CountriesSupported by Social Security Funds

ASTF in the Arab Region; Geographical and Virtual

Footprintswww.astf.net

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ASTF manages its progs from (Offices):

1) Sharjah (Grants Program)

2) Baghdad (Scientist Rescue Prog)

3) Cairo (Extraction of Innovation Prog)

4) Amman (Inv in Tech Prog)

5) Tunis (Tech Transfer Prog)

6) Tetwan/Fes (EU ties program)

ASTF Specialized Networks :ASTF Specialized Networks : Arab Biotechnology Network - UAE Renewable Energy Network –Tunis Arab Science Journalists Association - Egypt Arab Network on Nanotechnology – SwedenRD&I Network on Electro Technology – Morocco Technopreneurs and Investors Network – Jordan

Arab Women Association for Research &Development - Egypt

ASTF Specialized Networks :ASTF Specialized Networks : Arab Biotechnology Network - UAE Renewable Energy Network –Tunis Arab Science Journalists Association - Egypt Arab Network on Nanotechnology – SwedenRD&I Network on Electro Technology – Morocco Technopreneurs and Investors Network – Jordan

Arab Women Association for Research &Development - Egypt

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Collaborative Approach of ASTFPartners & Sponsors

(Selected among 400+ different entity)

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Thank You

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Arab Science and Technology FoundationUniversity CityP.O.Box 27272Sharjah, UAE

[email protected]