LIBYA
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Technology and innovation parks initiative launched

Libya has launched a technology and innovation parks initiative aimed at encouraging links between universities, research institutes and the technology-based private sector.

The initiative was announced at a workshop titled "Science Parks and Technology Transfer", held in the Libyan capital Tripoli on 30 March.

The technology and innovation parks initiative is in line with the 17 February 2011 revolution, which allowed for restructuring and refocusing the vision of Libya's research sector to deal with the low achievements and outputs of its universities and research centres as reflected in the Africa Competitiveness Report 2013.

Out of 144 countries, Libya ranked 136 in maths and science education, 133 in university-industry collaboration, 129 in innovation, 122 in the quality of research institutions, 118 in availability of scientists and engineers, 110 in technological readiness and 103 in higher education and training.

The initiative will focus on paving the way for a knowledge-based economy by building a stimulating environment for innovation and technology transfer and promoting a culture of innovation and competitiveness among businesses.

A new technology and innovation parks department has been created within the Libyan Authority for Research, Science and Technology, which falls under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The department will work with local policy-makers as well as national and international experts.

The initiative is tasked with enhancing the development, transfer and commercialisation of technology, and facilitating the setting up of innovation-based companies with universities and research centres through incubation and spin-off processes.

It will support universities in cooperating with the private sector by presenting creative scientific ideas with potential to be transformed into products and processes.

Further, the department will strive to harness the combined power of education, research and private investment to support job creation, new industries and solutions to development problems by creating environments that foster collaboration between them.

According to the Libya Herald Nurredine Shamakhy, director general of the Libyan Authority for Research, Science and Technology, told the workshop that the technology and innovation parks department would study the world's top 10 examples and "adopt one as the prototype to follow".

Shamakhy added that university research and the workplace were being linked through the introduction of prizes for the most innovative research by graduating students, referring to the recently introduced Libya Innovation Prize.

There is also an Enterprise Award for students and universities for the best business ideas. Both awards are designed to promote innovation among young would-be entrepreneurs.

The chance to enter the Enterprise Award competition is open to the half a million students in Libya's 12 universities and 107 vocational education and training institutions.