As part of its ongoing efforts to monitor the implementation of the Arab Strategy for Scientific Research, Technology and Innovation, adopted by the 28th Arab Summit held in Jordan in 2017, which entrusted ALECSO, in coordination with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, with overseeing its implementation, ALECSO continues to advance the Strategy’s executive plan. This plan includes policies and implementation mechanisms designed to promote scientific research in Arab countries and support sustainable development, in addition to providing the necessary financial resources to achieve these objectives.
In line with this direction, the Organization has initiated the establishment of the ALECSO Fund for Scientific Research and Innovation and launched several related initiatives, including the Arab University Twinning Forum, the Scientific Visitor Program, and other activities. Within this framework, ALECSO participated in the 5th Scientific Research Conference, titled “Fostering Academic Excellence through Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation,” held at Kuwait University on February 9–10, 2026.
In his keynote address, Dr. Mohamed Sanad Abu Darwish, Director of Science and Scientific Research at ALECSO, conveyed the greetings of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, to all participants, and expressed gratitude to the State of Kuwait for its continued support of Arab scientific research. He reviewed ALECSO’s efforts to strengthen scientific research in Arab countries through numerous initiatives and activities implemented across the region, in line with the goals of the Arab Strategy for Scientific Research, Technology and Innovation.
Dr. Abu Darwish shed special light on the ALECSO Fund for Scientific Research and Innovation, which the Organization has been working to establish since 2022. The Fund received praise and endorsement at the 19th Conference of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, held in the UAE in November 2024, where ALECSO was called on to pursue its efforts toward its establishment.
In a related context, Dr. Abu Darwish touched on the Arab University Twinning Forum, through which ALECSO has successfully connected multiple Arab universities and strengthened scientific and academic collaboration among them. He also highlighted ALECSO’s efforts to benefit from Arab scientific expertise, both within the Arab world and among Arab migrant minds, by providing opportunities to exchange knowledge and experiences through the ALECSO Scientific Visitor Program, implemented in many Arab universities and scientific institutions.
In outlining ALECSO’s vision for a scientific database of researchers across Arab countries and the Arab diaspora, Dr. Abu Darwish presented plans for the ALECSO Science Portal—the first initiative of its kind in the Arab world. This portal aims to build a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary registry of Arab researchers, encompassing diverse countries and scientific fields. Beyond serving as a centralized database, the portal is designed to foster communication and collaboration, enabling ALECSO to connect with experts both within the Arab region and among Arab migrant scholars worldwide.
