The document summarizes the results of a consultation process to identify strategic ICT research priorities in Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs) in relation to Horizon 2020. 235 questionnaires were collected from stakeholders in MPCs. The responses identified key ICT topics and societal challenges, with priorities including advanced computing, the future internet, and health. However, the consultation also found that MPCs generally lack an innovation ecosystem and have low levels of research commercialization. Barriers include a lack of governance, funding, and linkages between universities, industry and government.

1. Research and Innovation Priorities of MPC
related to the HORIZON 2020 Societal
Challenges,
INNOVATION WEEK
Casablanca 3 March 2015
Raphael Koumeri,
PLANET SA Greece

2. The Strategic Research Agenda - SRA
The expected outcomes of the consultation
process to identify strategic ICT research
priorities include
• Clear and up-to-date picture of the ICT research
capacities of each participating MPC in the
terms of H2020
• Identification of key future challenges to be
faced by each MPC
• List of ICT priorities for each country
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 2

3. Identification of Stakeholders
Direct MPC ICT research stakeholders
• RTD policy-makers, advisors & administrative (governmental)
• ICT research administrators and actors (e.g. universities, non-profit
research institutions, etc).
• ICT business and industry actors - representatives of key ICT
companies, ICT SME and other business associations, ICT-related
professional bodies, etc.
• Representatives of national and international ICT and ICT R&D-
related programmes, networks and initiatives (clusters, Technology
Platforms (TPs), etc).
Indirect MPC ICT research stakeholders
• Broader business community - e.g. Chambers of Commerce,
representatives of SME organisations, etc.
• Public sector agencies and departments.
• Representatives of the civil society.
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 3

4. The Consultation Process
• Gathering
Knowledge
• Planning the
Process
• Identifying
stakeholders
• Developing
consultation
material
Preparatory
Phase
Consultation
Survey
Consultation
Workshops
Final Phase
• Mobilizing
stakeholders
• Administering
the
consultation
process
• Analyzing
survey results
• Recruiting
expert panel
• Organizing the
consultation
workshops in
each MPC
• Developing the
individual
countries’
SRAs
• Developing the
bi-regional one
• Developing the
SRA of the
MPC
Phases
Activities
Outputs
Consultation
Plan & Questionnaire
Stakeholder
List
First Analysis
Final
consultation
results
Final SRAs
Consultation Phase
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 4

5. ICT Focus
“Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
(LEIT)”:
• Information and communication technologies
“Societal challenges”:
• SC1: Health, demographic change and wellbeing,
• SC3: Secure, clean and efficient energy,
• SC4: Smart, green and integrated transport,
• SC5: Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and
raw materials,
• SC6: Europe in a changing world - Innovative, inclusive and
reflective societies,
• SC7: Secure societies – Protecting freedom and security of
Europe and its citizens.
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 5

6. Current status
Consultation process finalised.
235 questionnaires were collected:
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 6

7. “Activities currently being carried out”
“Research Priorities over the next 7 years”
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 7
0%
10%
20%
30%
A new generation of comp.
& systems
Advanced Computing
Future Internet
Content tech & info
management
Robotics
Micro- & Nano, Photonics
ICT Cross-Cutting Activities
ICT Topics - all MPC
Activities currently being carried out Research Priorities over the next 7 years

8. ICT Topics
Cross-cutting:
•Internet of Things and Platforms for Connected Smart Objects
•Human-centric Digital Age
•Cybersecurity, Trustworthy ICT
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 8
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
A new generation of
comp. & systems
Advanced Computing
Future Internet
Content tech & info
management
Robotics
Micro- & Nano, Photonics
ICT Cross-Cutting
Activities
ICT Topics - Maghreb
Activities currently being carried out Research Priorities over the next 7 years

9. ICT Topics
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 9
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
A new generation of
comp. & systems
Advanced Computing
Future Internet
Content tech & info
management
Robotics
Micro- & Nano,
Photonics
ICT Cross-Cutting
Activities
ICT Topics - Mashrek
Activities currently being carried out Research Priorities over the next 7 years
Cross-cutting:
•Internet of Things and Platforms for Connected Smart Objects
•Human-centric Digital Age
•Cybersecurity, Trustworthy ICT

10. Societal Challenges
February 2015 INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015 10
0%
20%
40%
Health
Energy
Transport
Environment
Refl. Societies
Secure societies
Societal Challenges (ICT related, but without ICT) - all MPC
Activities currently being carried out Research Priorities over the next 7 years

11. Future ICT Research Drivers Maghreb
February 2015 Casablanca Workshop 11

12. Research and Innovation relation in the MPC
INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015
69%
26%
5%
FP7 - All MPCs
Higher education,
Research
Public Institutions
SME
An ‘ecosystem’ does not
really exist!
“Bringing innovation to
market”:
there is very little in the
MPC that could be brought
to a market

13. UNESCO Science Report:
Problems in developing an S&T Sector
INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015
• the absence of an S&T governance mechanism at state
level;
• low gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD);
• a lack of co-operation between scientific organizations
and productive sectors;
• a low technology component, leading to few
manufactured exports and a limited number of high-
tech exports;
• a poor capacity to innovate according to society’s
needs;
• a lack of databases providing information on S&T;
• challenges facing organizations involved in science.

14. Patents granted – a brief view
INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015
Egypt

15. Patents granted – a brief view
INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015
Jordan

16. Patents granted – a brief view
INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015
Greece

17. Overview: Patents granted to residents
www.MED-Dialogue.eu

18. Summary
INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015
Appreciation for S&T is also an almost alien concept in
the mindset of the Arab private sector, which has
always been strong in trading goods and services
rather than manufacturing.
The private sector has been unable to produce a
critical mass of knowledge workers to utilize these
resources to meet national objectives, add to the
national and global pool of knowledge or produce
patents leading to products and services.
High-tech exports from Arab countries are negligible.
The acquisition and application of technology is a
function of an enabling environment, yet this
environment is almost non-existent in many parts of
the Arab world.

19. Summary
INNOVATION WEEK CASABLANCA March 2015
There is very little linkage between universities and
industry when it comes to research output and thus
little wealth generation via the commercialization of
R&D. In the majority of Arab states, intellectual
property regimes are very weak, providing little
protection for the output of scientists.