(MENAFN Press) The Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) is organizing in cooperation with the Licensing Executives Society “Arab Countries (LES-AC), the second international annual Forum on patents licensing and technology transfer in the Arab region on November 28-29, 2011, in Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Ruling Council of the UAE and Ruler of Sharjah, and the Honorary President of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation.
The Forum aims to support technology transfer opportunities available in the Arab region and encourage cooperation among universities and industrial firms and small and medium-sized and large enterprises, in addition to spreading awareness about the protection mechanism and commercialization of inventions to contribute to the economic and social development, business development and increase competitiveness, nationally and internationally.
According to Dr. Abdallah Abdul Aziz Al-Najjar, president of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation, "The patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi provides deep meaning to the Forum as HH is well known regionally and internationally of his support to science and knowledge and investment in people, to achieve sustainable development and improving quality of life and society."
He added: The theme for this year's Forum will be the "Licensing Opportunities Forum 2011". Among the main participants in the Forum are: the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Technology Centre, and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization, and a group of experts, jurists, economists, industrialists, businessmen, academics, and companies
Dr. Al-Najjar said that the Forum will tackle the following vital and important topics: Technology transfer as a tool for economic growth in emerging countries, Rusticity's relevance in an Excellence driven Technology Transfer scheme, New Driver for Sustainable Growth & National Development - IP Licensing, Leveraging University Intellectual Property, New Approaches to Licensing in the Region, Technology Commercialization at Universities and Research Institutions in the region: Obstacles and Solutions, and Recommendations of Research Universities Summit in ESCWA Countries.
On his part, Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, LES-AC president, stressed the leadership role played by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi in all fields of Science, culture and technology, and highlighted
the importance of partnership between LES- AC and the Arab Foundation for science and technology, which comes in line with the professional responsibility of each of them, in connection with the dissemination of awareness among Arab industrialists, businessmen, technology developers , inventors and investors, regarding the protection and commercialization of inventions, and strengthening of cooperation between the academic institutions and the economic and industrial sectors.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh added that the Forum's agenda this year will inform the Arab Entrepreneurs and businessmen on the economic importance of IP licensing and technology transfer. As it will covers the various legal and strategic aspects for the protection and commercialization of inventions, in an attempt to transform the invention into a realistic product available in the market that provides a new technology, so as to offer a new product for the Arab consumer, or to develop an existing product in the market, in terms of quality and price.
He also stressed that this Forum represents a form of support for economic development in the Arab countries through strengthening the Arab experts' capacities, providing a catalyst climate to link the industrial companies, industries and the universities in the Arab countries and to achieve economic growth.
