WIPO Conference on Building Partnership for Mobilizing Resources

WIPO Conference on Building Partnership for Mobilizing Resources for Development Geneva, 5 -6 November 2009 Abdalla A. Alnajjar, Ph. D. President Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF) www. astf. net

Hardship all the way for Tech Commercialization Policy; Working in an entity that does not support R&D not have Patent policy Funds; No Gov Funds nor Industry support Protection; lack of How, Where, Language barrier Culture; does not accept releasing of inventions!! Commercialization; Licensing or Start-up Productization & Registration; the country procedures structured to import products Pub. No: WO/2009/093079 Int. Application no. : PCT/GB 2009/050063 ABOU FOUL, KHEDR SOBHY Agriculture Engineer www. aashabbio. com 6 Products for the innovation 2

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, 3

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 4 not set for the mission.

Sample Project Academic Technology Transfer Office provide services for effective and efficient commercialization of innovations, inventions and research findings. Aim 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 - 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. 5

ASTF Innovation Model Core Innovation Technology Market Activities Extraction Investment Bridging Inv in Tech Website Patents Catalogue R&D Activities Tech Trans. O. Tech BP Comp Industry Comm. & Networks S&T Parks Made in Arabia Industry BP C Incubators Grants Program Government Incubators Comp. Feasibility S. Support Existing Pilot Planned Inv. In Tech. Forum VC Seed Fund Commercialization & Technology Transfer R&D Centers IP Licensing Investment Readiness Society & Scientific Community Academia M A R K E T Start-ups Support Capacity Building / Skills Development 6

Programs initiated Launched in passed 4 months • 2010 L’Oreal-UNESCO Pan-Arab Regional Fellowship. (Starting with Egypt, SA, Tunis, and Kuwait and UAE) application@forwomeninscience-panarab. org • 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 World Finals on the 18 th of Nov. from 7 Arab Countries Supported by Social Security Funds 7

ASTF in the Arab Region; Geographical and Virtual Footprints www. astf. net 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 : Arab Biotechnology Network - UAE Renewable Energy Network –Tunis Arab Science Journalists Association - Egypt Arab Network on Nanotechnology – Sweden RD&I Network on Electro Technology – Morocco Technopreneurs and Investors Network – Jordan 8 Arab Women Association for Research &Development - Egypt