The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) for Lebanon was launched on Thursday April 27, 2006 at the Grand Serail of Beirut in an official ceremony organized by the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) under the auspices and in the presence of H.E. the President of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Fouad Siniora with the participation of H.E. the Director-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura.
The STIP is the outcome of a joint effort by a large number of Lebanese professional scientists and international experts, who worked together for three years to prepare the documents that were objective in analyzing local conditions as well as forward-looking in their regional and international outlook on the development of scientific and applied research.
In preparing STIP, the Lebanese and international experts undertook elaborate SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats) of the most relevant social and economic factors in Lebanon, which lead to the identification of the most pressing social needs, and, thus, to the formulation of priority scientific research programmes.
STIP represents a change in the operation of the CNRS itself, as well as a change in its relationship with all relevant stakeholders. It is a formulation of a comprehensive vision, linking together identified socio-economic societal needs and qualified human resources available in Lebanon. It stresses the need for partnerships between all stakeholders in Lebanese society in order to successfully formulate and implement the STIP Plan of Action in all its phases.
Unfortunately, efforts to implement the STIP have been slowed down due to financial constraints. Nonetheless, the CNRS has been able to gradually implement some of the STIP recommendations, from within internally available resources, namely:
- Adopting STIP priorities in its grant research program that finances research at Lebanese universities.
- Initiating steps, with the support of UNESCO and IRD, leading to the establishment of a Lebanese National Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation.
- Calling on Lebanese universities for the joint establishment of Associated Research Units, related to and responding to the proposal for centers of excellence in priority areas defined by STIP - 4 such units have been established since then.
As the CNRS is committed to the implementation of the STIP and is driven by its general directives, it will continue to implement priorities of the STIP in an innovative and comprehensive manner in order to secure credibility and gain the confidence of all concerned in Lebanon.
UNESCO, considering the STIP document to be a pioneer step towards a comprehensive Science, Technology and Innovation Policy that can be useful to adapt by other developing countries. In the hopes of securing wider circulation, and working in close collaboration with the CNRS, a review and reprint of the document was undertaken by UNESCO, Paris in April 2009.
Comprehensive Document
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download PDF (French)
Published copies of the STIP are available at the CNRS, and can be requested at:
National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS)
P.O.Box:11-8281
Riad El Solh 1107 2260
Beirut – Lebanon
Phone: +961-1-840260
Fax: +961-1-822639