A new consortium aimed at enhancing collaboration among research institutions in Bahrain and other Arab countries was unveiled yesterday during a major conference.
The Arab Think Tanks and Research Centres Network was officially launched by the Saudi-based Gulf Research Centre during the seventh Annual Derasat Forum, that concluded yesterday.
The event was held in co-ordination with the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) at the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel.
The new think tank – to be based in Alexandria, Egypt – aims to foster integration among research centres in the region, promote collaboration, and bridge diverse perspectives across Arab research institutions.
It will not only promote communication and engagement among researchers and specialists to develop shared solutions to regional challenges, but also provide decision-makers with insights and strategic recommendations to support effective policymaking.
Gulf Research Centre founder and chairman Dr Abdulaziz Bin Saqr said the initiative seeks to advance Arab causes, facilitate knowledge exchange and co-ordinate joint initiatives to boost research in the region.
“The think tank will partner with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (one of the largest libraries in the world) to enhance Arab research integration and link knowledge to policymaking,” said Dr Bin Saqr.
“Development issues in the Arab world face intertwined structural challenges that cannot be addressed by traditional tools. These challenges require the mobilisation of scientific research, data, and prospective analysis in crafting more effective and sustainable policies.”
The initiative was announced as the first session of the day – titled ‘Arab Think Tanks and Sustainable Development - From Knowledge to Impact – got underway. So far, more than 20 centres from Bahrain and the rest of the Arab countries have registered with the think tank.
Annual meetings and conferences will be held to discuss research and findings from Bahrain and the region, starting with the first forum of the network to be held on April 1 and 2 next year in Alexandria.
The think tank will hold workshops and seminars and has already published on its website the first research work entitled, ‘The EU’s New Pact for the Mediterranean: Between the Promise of Renewal and the Paradox of Repackaging’ by researcher Houda Barroug.
An analysis titled ‘Gulf Mediation in Focus: Regional Implications of Renewed US-Iran Nuclear Talks’ has also been published coinciding with the event.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina director Dr Ahmed Zayed highlighted the importance of Arab think tanks in confronting and accelerating global transformations.
“The production of impactful applied knowledge contributes to supporting policymaking and achieving sustainable development,” said Dr Zayed.
“This institutional initiative aims to enhance co-ordination and integration and to build a shared Arab knowledge space.”
The Annual Derasat Forum was held under the theme ‘Arab Research Centres Forum for Sustainability and Development’. It aimed to explore pathways for intellectual integration on sustainability issues, and to present a balanced vision of opportunities available to Arab states as they pursue ambitious development plans, amid accelerating regional and international transformations.
Two other sessions were held through the day – ‘Local Solutions Serving the Global Agenda’, which explored local communities abilities to generate innovative development solutions, and ‘Tools of the Future – Data, Analysis, and Foresight Serving Policy’.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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