The Palestine Academy for Science and Technology held a workshop in conclusion to the first stage of the implementation of "Enhancing University-Industry-Public Sector Partnership in Palestine" (EUIP) project, executed by the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology  in partnership with the Palestinian Federation of Industries (PFI), and funded by the German Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

The workshop included a program detailing and disseminating to stakeholders, mainly from the industrial sector, the results of activities carried out at an earlier stage. The intention was to introduce the project to industry and receive feedback from some their representatives about the Triple Helix cooperation and ways to advance this concept in a Palestinian context. The activities prior to this workshop included among other activities, a dissemination of a questionnaire assessing the present situation vis-à-vis cooperation between the academic and industrial sectors.

The workshop was an active engagement and participation of related stakeholders and presented an ample opportunity to get an insight of thoughts and views of people involved. The conclusions drawn relate to the setting up of steps towards building an institutionalized partnership between the academic and industrial sectors in Palestine, and to determine the initial priorities of research and development of active industrial sectors through tangible courses of action such as forming joint research groups between universities, concerned governmental bodies and the industrial sector.

Priorities determined and recommendations

After the discussion sessions were concluded a set of priorities were determined. These include the following:

1. Activating and enhancing cooperation and common work between universities and industries in the field of R&D, and creating joint research groups tackling research needs for different industrial sectors.
2. Establishing an organized and official arrangement of triple helix with clear policies and program.
3. Plan a national range strategy for joint cooperation between all stakeholders in the triple helix model.
4. Encouraging Palestinian scientists and professional expatriates to join the effort in the establishment of a viable and R&D regime in Palestine.
5. Encourage companies to allocate useful research budgets within their companies.
6. Develop viable and workable cooperation scheme between universities and industrial companies to combine capabilities, and jointly train and educate students to equip them with advanced skills that are more responsive to modern industries and job market; and to enhance the competitiveness of local industry.
7. Work on the development of policies and laws related to R&D and triple helix cooperation.
8. Work closely with PALAST and further support it to lead the efforts to achieve goals set above.

Workshop Outcomes:

1. General consensus on the need to develop a viable and workable triple helix model serving both scientific research and business in Palestine.
2. A need to develop a policy platform which is responsive to both research needs and industrial development, leading to an acceptable level of fusion and harmonization between the output of education and industry and market needs.
3. A full realization of all involved of the shared responsibility to jointly work and achieve a workable and viable partnership in R&D.
4. A pressing need to begin the process of establishing joint research groups or teams specializing in jointly identified specialized industrial sectors.
5. A need to continue with the level of effort set by this project, and go through well-set plans and timeframes to achieve all of the above.