Arab research council proposed to strengthen university collaboration across region

Universities across the Arab world should establish a regional research and innovation council to improve coordination, strengthen research collaboration and address shared challenges, an academic has proposed.

Said Hamdioui, head of the computer engineering laboratory at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, made the proposal during a higher education summit in Benguerir, Morocco, on Nov 3. He argued that research across the Arab region lacked the coordination needed to build a stronger and more focused research ecosystem.

Hamdioui called for a council that would bring together governments, universities, companies and other stakeholders to establish common research priorities and coordinate scientific activities across countries.

The proposed body could identify shared research missions, select projects through transparent processes and monitor their progress. Hamdioui said the region needed closer cross-border collaboration to improve research output and strengthen its international reputation.

Proposal for an Arab research fund

As part of the proposal, Hamdioui suggested creating an Arab mission fund to provide competitive funding for research teams involving universities and industry partners from different countries.

Such a fund could support projects addressing common regional challenges while encouraging institutions to share research capabilities, training, testing facilities and expertise.

He also called for the development of regional research hubs and stronger support for deep-technology ventures. Universities, he said, should work together through consortia focused on clearly defined research problems, drawing inspiration from collaborative research structures in Europe.

Hamdioui suggested that a lack of funding was not necessarily the main obstacle facing research in Arab universities. Instead, he pointed to gaps in leadership, coordination and the implementation of research ambitions.

He argued that a small group of countries or institutions could begin the process without waiting for every country in the region to participate.

Calls for stronger international research partnerships

The need for greater scientific collaboration was also highlighted by Farida Fassi, professor of physics at Mohammed V University in Morocco.

Fassi referred to the historical contribution of Arab scientific discoveries to the development of science in Europe, particularly through the translation of Arabic scientific works into Latin during the 12th and 13th centuries.

She called for the region to build on this scientific heritage through renewed research collaboration, innovation and stronger international partnerships.

Fassi said Arab researchers needed closer connections with the global scientific community to accelerate discoveries and contribute to addressing shared challenges.

The proposals come amid wider discussions about strengthening the research profile and international standing of universities across the Arab world.

However, the suggested regional council and funding mechanism remain proposals, with no formal establishment or implementation plan announced.