Cooperation with Mediterranean Partners to build Opportunities around ICT

and Societal And Industrial Challenges of Horizon 2020

MOSAIC Newsletter nº4

Maghreb region

Algeria Page 2

Morocco Page 3

Tunisia Page 7

Mashriq region

Egypt Page 9

Jordan Page 10

Lebanon Page 12

Palestine Page 14

Syria Page 15

Europe

NEM Summit Page 17

ICT 2015 Page 17

December 2015 Page | 1

Algeria . intelligent transportation,

. the fight against climate change. Research and innovation have been at the heart of the workshop organized by the University of Blida1 the 03-04 November 2015. It turned around the research framework program Horizon 2020 (2014- 2020) whose priorities concern : . scientific excellence; . industrial leadership; . societal challenges.

The actors in this symposium have raised community awareness of both sides: that of the researchers and industrialists to associate them with the needs of society.

The MOSAIC project which Saad Dahlab Blida University is a partner proposes the creation of two Technology Platforms for two regions of the Mediterranean area: a PT covering the Maghreb countries (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia) and another covering the Mashreq countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria). This workshop focused on how the European Technology Platforms MED-TPs instruments promote bilateral cooperation and non-European can work together to establish between European stakeholders and strategic and successfully complete a long-term partnership partners in the Mediterranean region on R & D on the needs of the Mediterranean industry in projects around the EU program "Horizon 2020" and research and innovation around the Horizon 2020 also the national research programs of the program ICT and social challenges on a global scale in Mediterranean partner countries to face some major different sectors. challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Thus, the actors have focused on the concentration This workshop has helped strengthen dialogue and of resources on key priorities of today's society to collaborative research in the field of communication meet the challenges for the welfare of humanity technologies and information technologies (ICT) in including: collaboration with the Mediterranean partner countries. It offered a common area of knowledge . health and demographic change, and innovation, source of smart growth and . food security and sustainable agriculture, December 2015 Page | 2

innovation with socio-economic partners in the digitize the archives recorded in 1940. Specifically, higher education and scientific research in order to scanning is a technology of transforming an original work into a digital file by "telecine" process for a establish the consortium that will support the film or the "transcoding" for the videotape. The establishment of the technology platform. resulting digital file allows the exploitation and dissemination of the film on the current digital media platforms (editing system, video projection, and web). These digital files are stored and archived on secure media, hard drives, servers and LTO tapes. The CCM did not indicate the end date of the project but the first stage will end in 2016. We note finally that the total cost of the project is 4 million dirhams. [1]

Careem the smart Taxi closest to you

The car reservation service, Careem, provides services for three months in more than 18 cities in North Africa and Middle East. Today, the shared taxi is available at the usual price of regular taxi with many other benefits in Morocco: Follow the

taxi on approach and receive SMS upon arrival; The organizers of the University of Blida 1 Mosaic, central supervision by GPS for more security; have brought a scientific light, professional and Multiple Payment method: Cash, rechargeable associatif to the issue of new information and credit, credit card, and bills (accessible to communications technology in all disciplines, they businesses); The Careem taxis are selected one by deem fundamental for the future of our societies. one: quality charter, audit papers ...; You can rate the taxi driver each time upon arrival … The opinions of the participants present, socio- economic and academic sectors, carefully reported, showed the success of this workshop.

Morocco

New technologies: The Moroccan Cinematographic Centre launched a digitization project of Moroccan archives

The Moroccan Cinematographic Centre (MCC) announced the launch of a digitization project of Figure 1 : Extracted from [2] Moroccan archives. This project concerns the archives (i.e., documentaries, feature films and Access to Careem service is actually performed information reports) that were recorded in 1905 through smartphones as an alternative solution in and are currently stored on strips of 35 and 16 addition to access through the website and call millimeters. In addition, the MCC has indicated that center. [2] [3] the project would take place in two phases: a first one is to identify, restore and digitize the archives recorded between 1905 and 1940 (it is almost 4000 minutes of film) and a second that will be to December 2015 Page | 3

Casablanca is hosting a national summit on his delegate Minister Mrs. Jamila El Moussalli) digital transformation signed a partnership concerning the ICT in the Moroccan university. This new agreement is a Casablanca will host a national summit on digital continuation of a well advanced collaboration transformation on 12th and 13th November. The between Huawei and the Ministry. This partnership event will bring together the leaders who want to include the training and the certification for the understand and better adapt digital processing to benefit of university teachers, an "Innovation their enterprises, but also renowned speakers such Award" for the benefit of higher education Imad Barrakad (Chief Executive of Moroccan institutions in the fields related to ICT and the society tourism engineering), Asmaa Fenniri (Inwi awarding of an "excellence Award" to outstanding digital director) or Matthieu Chéreau (Board students in the fields of telecommunications. Director of Poros France and author of Community Furthermore, 15 Moroccan students will benefit Management). Note that the digital transformation from two weeks of cultural holiday and training in is a concept that refers to all issues facing the ICT in China (from 14th to 28th November). This is companies due to the development of new proof of the Huawei engagement in the Moroccan technologies. higher education. Recall that the company launched in 2008 the program "Telecom seeds for the future" that aims to promote excellence in Moroccan universities in the fields of ICT. Thus, the firm already hosts about 80 trainees annually, and gives donations to the ICT laboratories and initiatives for students and teachers from the National Institute of Postal and Telecommunications ‗INPT‘. [7]

Egovma: ‗Idarati‘, this application knows a Figure 2 : Extracted from [4] great success since the beginning of the year

This is a fairly broad topic that can be treated from According to the latest statistics released by the different angles such as new consumer behaviors Ministry of Public Service and modernization of the (online shopping, social networking, forums ...), administration, the daily consultations of the new available tools to businesses such as application ‗Idarati‘ is increased from an average of marketing digital or new study methods of 1018 in the beginning of the year, to around 1258 customer profiles. In Morocco, the explosion of the currently. The cause of this growth is related to the internet and the use of smartphones put moroccan progression in the new technologies. This businesses face new challenges. Indeed, companies application is a platform that allows citizens to should adapt their offerings to more mobile access public services and submit their concerns. consumption and be more responsive to the digital They can have more information on administrative channels. Therefore, this summit is very important procedures, such as the national identity card, for them. [4] [5] [6] passport or customs facilities. ‗Idarati‘ allows also to be directly related to the relevant departments. Education: Huawei institutionalized its The platform, which is available on iOS and collaboration with the Moroccan university Android, is available in French and Arabic, moreover, it is accompanied by a website The Thursday 5th November 2015, the Chinese firm (www.service-public.ma) as well as a call center Huawei Technologies (represented by its managing and administrative direction available Monday to director in Morocco Xu Xujing) and the Ministry of Friday from 9am to 13pm. Note that the center, Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive which can also be reached from abroad, rose by Training (represented by Mr. Lahcen Daoudi and December 2015 Page | 4

25% of calls and emails compared to the same The scope of the event would be to for ICT period of last year. [8] [9] researchers and developers along with other interested parties to be informed about the new structure and rules of the new Horizon 2020 and be trained on proposal development and consortium formation.

Figure 3 : Extracted from [8]

[1]http://www.micromagma.ma/actualites/maroc [2]http://www.it.ma/innovation/careem-le-smart-taxi-plus- pres-de-vous/ [3]http://www.therollingnotes.com/2015/07/10/smart-taxi- careem/ [4]http://www.micromagma.ma/actualites/maroc/item/4044- This event was also an occasion to explain what a casablanca-accueillera-un-sommet-national-sur-la- transformation-digitale Technology platform and to announce the launch of [5]http://www.capitalclientmag.ma/Le-sommet-national-de-la- the constitution of Maghreb technology platform, transformation-digitale-se-tiendra-a-Casablanca_a256.html the 24th and 25th at Rabat in Morocco. [6]http://lnt.ma/transformation-digitale-un-recentrage-sur- The main sections of this event were: lutilisateur-permis-par-la-technologie/ [7]http://www.micromagma.ma/actualites/maroc/item/4070- education-huawei-institutionnalise-sa-collaboration-avec-l-  Understanding the structure and philosophy universite-marocaine behind the programme H2020: the new focus [8]http://www.maroc.ma/fr/applications-mobiles/idarati  The main programmes: Excellent Science, LEIT, [9]http://www.micromagma.ma/actualites/maroc/item/3958- egovma-l-application-idarati-connait-un-franc-succes-depuis-le- Societal Challenges, MSCA debut-de-l-annee  Innovation and market aspects: what is innovation and what are TRL –Technology Tunisia Readiness Levels?  Rules for participation and financing MED-Dialogue and MOSAIC Awareness and  Introduction to European TPs and MED-TPs Training Event  The Need of Technology Platforms to develop business in the region and foster Research and MED-Dialogue and MOSAIC Awareness and Training Innovation Event in Tunisia had been organized by CNI on 5th  The main ICT Work Programme in ―Leadership and 6th November at Regency Hotel in Tunis. More in enabling and industrial technologies (LEIT)‖ than 40 participants from various sectors had been  ICT in ―Excellent Science‖ present in this event.  ICT in ―Societal challenges‖  The Proposal Structure  Interpreting and understanding call texts  Introduction to the exercise  Call text exercise  Traps to fall into  Partner search and profile development  Introducing Participants‘ proposal ideas for the next calls in H2020 and identify the most suitable calls for each idea.

December 2015 Page | 5

CNI in ICT 2015, Lisbonne • Innovation for Growth and Jobs … • Moreover visited the stands of many others CNI was present in the ICT 2015, 20-22 October projects we had the contact of many European 2015 in Lisbon, Portugal. This event was an and International enterprises and organizations occasion to know about European commission like: projects and cooperation in the ICT field. CNI was • Eurecat : technology centre of Catalonia Spain representing the Tunisian partnership in MOSAIC • Council for Scientific and Industrial Research project stand. (CSIR) in South Africa for Information • Institut for information &communications technology promotion from Korea. • SanderWebung GmbH from Germany partner in Cloud SME project • Poznan supercomputing and Networking Center • Cloudflow project • E-CODEX project ….

CNI gained a new knowledge about ICT activity in Europe and built new relations with European organizations and enterprises.

ICT4ALL Tunisia 2015 from 16 to 19 November 2015

ICT 2015 was a huge event that give a better Tunisia renews its commitment to the development understand of Horizon 2020 and work program of and prosperity of Africa and the Arab countries, by the 2016-2017 and offer opportunities to know organizing the 9th edition of the annual what a transformation ICT make all around the international event ICT4ALL from 16 to 19 world especially in Europe. November 2015 in Hammamet. This event organized in collaboration particularly with the ITU, the African Union and the League of Arab States (...) has been designed to ensure the monitoring and evaluation of achievements of the Tunisia Agenda, adopted in the World Summit on the Information Society 2005. Since then, Tunisia has become a space of exchange and debate and a prospective space for ICT.

CNI attended to many conferences and many parallel sessions and Networking sessions about:

• Digital Agenda of Europe • An overview of the ICT Work Program 2016-17 • Internet of thing: how Internet of thing help to improve farming • Modernizing the Public Sector • Driving Innovation Through Creativity December 2015 Page | 6

CNI was present with many other industry players to expose their know-how, expertise and innovations and share their future visions.

This event brought together those from government, private sector, academia and technology with the aim of being the catalyst for debate enabling a reduction in the digital divide experienced by all those attending be it geographical, economic or social. It offers the opportunity to meet with IT gurus, industry professionals and solution providers. In fact, this ICT4ALL‘2015 side event brought together the main stakeholders, including MOSAIC in ClusMED International Conference researchers, decision-makers, officials in regulatory agencies, professionals and civil society leaders, to MOSAIC project had been represented by Tunisian talk collaboration and ICT regulation to address partner in ClusMED International Conference on the societal challenges. theme ―Towards an Euro-MED Co-operation for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth - ICT Regulations Egypt for E-Transformation in Support of Societal Challenges‖ held the 17th November in Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia. Jordan

MOSAIC–Jordan organizes Awareness Days for MOSAIC

The members of the MOSAIC – Mashriq: realizes so much the importance of awareness and dissemination activities of MOSAIC at Jordan in specific and Mashriq in general. they organized series of meetings, round tables, and face to face meetings talking about the semantic role of MOSAIC in development and innovation for the region. With Int@j "Information and Communications Association of Jordan," CNI had been present to discuss about ICT regulation in support of e-transformation and how the ICT regulatory legal frameworks can improve meaningfully the creation of new social and economic networks and services and opportunities to exchange best practices for the EU – MED regions.

they organized several meetings and face to face meetings to discuss future cooperation between December 2015 Page | 7

both sides. Int@j at the end expressed their MOSAIC–Jordan Visits University of willingness to participate and take place in future Southampton–UK for future cooperation. activities of MOSAIC, they participated in the big event organized in American University of Lebanon MOSAIC – Jordan visited UK, SOTTON in UK to – Beirut during the period of August 28-29, 2015. discuss possible cooperation in the future. Both Mr. Khaled hudhud the chief and director of Int@j sides were so much happy to continue this represented Int@j in this event by giving a lecture cooperation when the time is available. regarding the future cooperation between both Memorandum of agreement between both sides will sides (MOSAIC and Int@j). MOSAIC – Int@j new-- be signed in the coming days to continue this a-days cooperate together using the databases to cooperation. disseminate the activities of MOSAIC abroad.

MOSAIC – Jordan participates in Big Data Arab Initiative in Lebanon.

MOSAIC – Jordan participate in the Jordan participated in the workshop organized by International JIEEE Conference in Amman. MOSAIC – Lebanon at American University of Beirut during the period August 28 – 29, 2015. The The mosaic – Jordan participated in the MOSAIC – Jordan participated in this event by 4 organization of the 9th Jordan International keynote speakers to discuss and investigate Conference of Electrical and Electronic Engineering organized by Jordan Engineering Association in Jordan. MOSAIC hosted and granted two pioneers faculty members from EU Prof. Geovanni de Micheli from EPFL in swisserland. Prof. Micheli was so much happy and enthusiastic regarding the management of the MOSAIC, and expressed his thankful regarding the matter that how Jordanian partners make all of these effort to keep on Jordan in EU projects. From other part, Prof. Abu-Baker Bahaj from University of Southampton also visited Jordan and did a keynote speech in the JIEEE conference talking about the smart cities and clean possible opportunities between EU and MENA energy. Both professors expressed their willingness Region. to participate with Jordanian partners when Horizon 2020 is available for that purposes. Prof. Maher Sughyer from King Hussain Cancer Center – Health workgroup, Mr. Muhi Tawalbeh from National Energy Research Center – Energy

December 2015 Page | 8

workgroup, and Mr. Khalid Hudhud – Transfer of Beirut on August 28-29 2015. Even though we Technology working groups representative of identified the Lebanese priority as eHealth and the Information Technology Association in Jordan. The MOSAIC – Jordan team in this event were so much dynamics, they presented several ideas, discussed other ideas and they were working together with other partners for possible cooperation. By the end of this workshop, all partners where ready to investigate other opportunities to work together. MOSAIC – Jordan organize the Launch of MOSAIC in Jordan.

More than 120 people from more than 5 countries attended the launch of the MOSAIC – Jordan, the attendees who were faculty members, industries, NGOs, and students were so much ready to attend the launch of the MOSAIC in Jordan. Several ideas Masrhiq partners also identified eHealth as a from 4 main working groups adopted by MOSAIC priority in their countries, the Arab Big Data were presented in this event. Under his patronage Initiative covered Arab Big Data from several of president of JUST, the vice president Prof. perspectives. This event engaged a large umbrella Osama Nusair were attended the opening of this of 65 interested stakeholders from Lebanon, Syria, workshop. Different keynote speakers from Health, Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt in addition to the Environment including water, Energy and MOSAIC partners. agriculture were also presented. A questioners and willgness of participation in the next and future The event brought together ICT stakeholders from cooperation where distributed in this event. the telecom, mobile, hospital, insurance, public health, tourism, environment, energy, electricity, and educational sectors. They reflected for two days upon priorities and challenges in their areas of work and conclusions were drafted in a separate report.

Tech Talks at the UK Lebanon Tech Hub (September 15, 2015)

The UK Lebanon Tech Talks are weekly 2-hour interactive sessions on tech- industry related topics featuring internationally acclaimed experts and influencers in the field from Lebanon both Lebanon and around the world to share their own experiences and personal Arab Big Data Initiative (August 28—29, knowledge. The UKLTH Tech Talks serve to add and 2015) diversify the knowledge and background of entrepreneurs, experienced businessmen, and In coordination with other Mashriq partners, individuals working within and interested in MOSAIC-Lebanon organized the Arab Big Data startups and SMEs alike. TechTalks usually Initiative that took place at the American University comprise of a 1-hour talk by a featured speaker, December 2015 Page | 9

followed by 1 hour Q&A and networking TechWadi MENA Roadshow: Beirut (October session.The event will take place at UK Lebanon 12, 2015) Tech Hub, BDD in Beirut, Lebanon. Source: http://www.wamda.com/events The TechWadi Roadshow, a ten-day traveling roadshow powered by Google for Harvard Arab Weekend Startup Pitch Entrepreneurs, is Competition (September 28, 2015) coming to Beirut on As the largest pan-Arab October 23-24. conference in North America, The Roadshow consists the Harvard ArabWeekend has of four educational prided itself on showcasing a workshops, each two- mosaic of perspectives and day long, that will bring experienced entrepreneurs insights on the most pressing and technology professionals to mentor local issues in the Arab world. startups in Amman, Cairo, Beirut, and Dubai. Mentors at the Beirut event include seasoned The event, held on the weekend of November 5- professionals from companies like Google, Yahoo, 8 at Harvard University, is hosting an Arab Startup Facebook, as well as founders of various Silicon Day aiming at promoting the growth of Arab Valley startups entrepreneurship by offering coaching, mentoring Source: http://www.wamda.com/events and investment opportunities. Pretotyping and Beyond: Building the Right ‗It‘ Source: http://www.wamda.com/events Before You Build ‗It‘ Right (October 14, 2015) 'Pretotyping and Beyond: Building the Right ‗It‘ Third Annual Meeting (October 1-2, 2015) Before You Build ‗It‘ Right', the first pretotyping workshop in the region, will be held in Dubai on The third IDEAL project annual meeting was held October 21 at The on October 1and 2, 2015 at the Università Degli Cribb working space. Studi di Bari Aldo Moro in Bari, Italy. Partners The workshop will be discussed year three project achievements, hosted by Silicon administrative challenges and future project tasks Valley serial and timeline. The meeting also gave the entrepreneur, mentor opportunity to USJ and LAU to report on their and adviser Karina internship experience. Some sessions were Sotnik. dedicated to discussing What is pretotyping and how does it help startups? project outputs and In the most basic terms, pretotyping is a new tool sustainability which that helps teams validate new ideas quickly and included entrepreneurship cost-effectively. It is the art and science of "faking mentoring and the it before making it" when it comes to innovative establishment of the products or services. The concept was originally Center for Research and developed by Google engineering director Alberto Innovation (CRI), the formation of the research Savoia in 2009 as a way to test new products administration association, the networking event before they launch. The point is to simulate the between the academia and industry, as well as the experience of having and using a new product with publishing of a research administration handbook the smallest possible investment of time and for higher education institutions. money. Source: http://www.wamda.com/events

December 2015 Page | 10

CLEMENCEAU MEDICAL CENTER BRINGS Palestine NEWS OF MULTI-TREATMENT APPROACH ON CANCER TO THE MIDDLE EAST(November 17, Palestinian Big Data Initiative Workshop 2015) Every year, more than 145,000 people die in the Middle East as a result of cancer, according to global statistics collected by the American Cancer Society. If detected early, more than one-third of those deaths are easily preventable or treatable. In order to discuss the latest trends and discoveries to treat lung, colorectal and breast cancers, as well as pain management, physicians from around the region gathered on Oct. 30-31, 2015, in the third annual Cancer Care Forum hosted by Clemenceau Medical Center, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, in Beirut, Lebanon. The theme for this year‘s symposium— Integrating A workshop on Big Data in Palestine was organized New Radiotherapy Procedures in the Multimodality by MOSAIC project (an EU project at Birzeit Management of Cancer—explores the benefits of University) in cooperation with PITA, the Palestinian combining more than one method of treatment Information Technology Association, in August 5th, when managing different types of cancer. 2015. The workshop took place at PITA headquarter The Cancer Care Forum was the ideal platform to and brought main Big Data stakeholders, industries, address current topics in Radiation Therapy as CMC and academics to discuss the Big Data issues in prepares to open its new comprehensive Cancer Palestine. The workshop was attended by 17 Center with a specialized state-of-the-art Radiation participants from the private, public and academic Therapy unit in 2016. The unit, headed by Dr. sectors, including, PITA, PALTEL Group, Alpha Nicolas G. Zouain, will be the first in Lebanon and International, Jerusalem Water Undertaking, the the region to install a new, state-of-the-art, image- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), guided technology that provides more accurate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Birzeit university, An- concentrated doses of radiation. Najah university, and Polytechnic University.

Source: http://web-release.info/ It was agreed that Palestinian organizations and Source:http://www.ideal4lebanon.org/category/ne companies should smartly consider the collection, ws/ storage, visualization, integration, and analysis of

data, as this data can be used in creating a new

generation of decision support, saving operational costs, and support daily business processes. The participants also discussed that the culture of sharing data among organizations is one of the biggest challenges for Big Data projects in Palestine, since access to potential datasets is limited as many December 2015 Page | 11

datasets are owned and concealed by the private 8th of October) targeted companies to show their sector. latest products and services through booths and The lack of graduates in data technologies was presentations. The IT Multinational Days: ICT highlighted, and universities were encouraged to play multinational companies such as Ericsson, CISCO, a vital role, not only in research, but also in Microsoft, Siemens and Google got a chance to introducing new graduate and undergraduate engage in a series of seminars, lectures and panels programs and courses in data science and data to discuss their Smart and Intelligent technology engineering. The need for such skills is high in solutions. demand not only in the Palestinian industry but also for the ICT outsourcing industry, which is growing Syria rapidly in Palestine. Syrian Erasmus+ Second National Information Day August 11-12th, 2015 At the end it was agreed that Alpha international and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics will be In cooperation with the National Office of Erasmus preparing for the next workshop, and will try to Plus Program in Syria, Damscus University held the prepare and present several use cases of Big Data Syrian Erasmus+ Second National Information Day. values. It is worth noting that this workshop was The seminars presented Erasmus Plus Program originally organized to prepare for the Palestinian and the opportunities it provides for students of participation in the upcoming meeting for the Arab higher education, master and Ph.D. and for those Big Data Initiative (ABDI), that was helt later in who work in this domain. Lebanon at the end of August, 2015. Erasmus Plus is a program for teaching, training, youth and sport, and it was launched by the Palestinian EXPOTECH 2015 European Union in 2014 and it is scheduled to end in 2020. For its 12th year, EXPOTECH is being organized for National Director of Erasmus Plus in Syria Dr. Rami 3 sequential days to showcase the success stories al-Ayoubi said the program mainly seeks to of the Palestinian businesses and entrepreneurs enhance cooperation with European universities in within a national week highlighting the global the domain of higher education and to consolidate technological trends, business & investment the understanding among cultures through opportunities and addressing the continuing academic cooperation. importance of building IT awareness and potential Al-Ayoubi indicated that the carried out projects growth for innovation and entrepreneurship. have contributed to meeting the national priorities of higher education in Syria through establishing new projects at the institutions and developing the current curriculum, in addition to implementing dynamic rules in a way that would meet the social needs and the local market. The program provides international opportunities for higher education institutions and it encourages teaching and research in the domains of European studies and the projects of building institutional capacities.

The first day (5th of October), a conference was held with key speakers from the Palestinian ICT and the world would be present, it also included a session about Horizon 2020. The Exhibition (7th – December 2015 Page | 12

1st Syrian Education & Training Expo, 18-20 Aug, 2015

The exhibition was inaugurated on August 15, 2015 at Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus by the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Mohammed Amer Mardini. The exhibition was organized by ―Masarat‖ company in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education. The participants were dozens of public and private universities, educational institutes and training centers. The participants presented their services, offers and opportunities to students. GWA participated in the exhibition and it had its own stand with rollups, brochures and leaflets, and presented the company‘s activities and projects, in particular MOSAIC project. The Minister of Higher Education Dr. Mohammed Amer Mardini and the Minister of Administrative Development, Mr. Hassan al-Nouri visited GWA stand and they were December 2015 Page | 13

very interested in MOSAIC project and asked for a dedicated meeting after the exhibition to explain more in details the activities of MOSAIC project.

GWA had three radio and TV interviews and distributed many brochures and leaflets to disseminate MOSAIC projects. The exhibition was a great opportunity to present and disseminate MOSAIC project.

December 2015 Page | 14

National World Robot Olympiad 12-13 September ،2015 The Syrian Scientific Society for Informatics, the organizer of the national World Robot Olympiad 2015, organized a ceremony on 13 September 2015 at Uptown complex in Dummar area in Damascus to honor and distribute awards for the winners in the national World Robot Olympiad finals. The Olympiad kicked off on Friday 12 September 2015 with the participation of 75 teams, more than 36 coaches, and 43 judges. The main objective of the national Olympiad is to National Collegiate Programming Contest compete in robot programming problems for finals 29-30/9-1/10/2015 carrying out different tasks according to the level The 5th Collegiate Programming Contest took place of each competition and age groups of contestants, during the period 29-30/9-1/10/2015 with the which requires mastering the basics of robotics and participation of 57 teams from 12 Syrian programming to finish trials and tasks in the universities, three non-official teams, two from the shortest time possible. This Olympiad teaches National Center for Distinguished Students and one perseverance and inspires creative problem-solving from the Syrian Olympiad in Informatics. The as well as teamwork and optimal use of time, in contest was organized by the Syrian Computer addition to paving the way for participants to Society and Lattakia-based Tishreen University. compete in global competitions. This 5th national finals is an opportunity to assess The 2015 Olympiad is the first after Syria gained the students‘ progress and their ability to compete membership in the World Robot Olympiad on the international level and aims at empowering association, and competitions cover all categories students to effectively contribute to building the which are adopted at international events. informatics and communications sector and help in The World Robot Olympiad is an international non- enriching the development process in the country profit organization formed in 2004 with 50 current in terms of providing the needed skills and qualified members, and youths from member countries cadres. compete in local competitions and the best teams A team from Tishreen University won the first place are selected to compete on the international level. in the national final and two teams from Damascus University and Aleppo University came in the second and third places, respectively.

December 2015 Page | 15

The first stage of the Olympiad for teachers was held on August 30 with the participation of 700 teachers. This year‘s contest was the second, as experimental one took place last year in four provinces involving 344 contestants.

Mashroue‖ program, 6 October ،2015― The successful experience in the field of the small and micro loans initiated by the civil sector with the support and participation of the government has been extended to include more small productive projects such as ‖ MY Project‖ or ―Mashroue‖ that provide thousands of jobs‘ opportunities to the unemployed people. ―Mashroue‖ means ―My Project‖ program kicked off in 2011 in five provinces through establishing 53 funds with an initial balance estimated at SYP 84 million to reach now 286 funds in 11 provinces with a balance of SYP 626 million. The total number of

those who have benefited from the program loans Syrian Science Olympiad for teachers 3-4 reached 14,861 people and is due to reach 22,000 October ،2015 till 2016.

The program, which is affiliated to the Syria Trust The National Commission for the Syrian Science for Development and established in cooperation Olympiad announced the winners in the Olympiad with the Local Administration Ministry, aims to finals for teachers. The tests were held in the support the projects that contribute to improving subjects of math, physics, chemistry, biology and the family‘s income and local economy. IT. Mashroue program offers micro loans to support 220 contestants from the provinces of Damascus, small projects that contribute to improving the Damascus Countryside, Sweida, Quneitra, Homs, poor families in need of income, supporting all Aleppo, Hama, Tartous and Lattakia competed in production sectors, enhancing the traditional and the finals, where the tests were conducted in two heritage industries and preserving them from rounds, 3 hours each. extinction in addition to improving the Education Winning teachers get benefited from in the process sector through offering educational loans to the of qualifying and training other teachers in the students. various provinces. Some might be given the opportunity to join the Central Scientific Committee of the Olympiad or be appointed as specialized instructors and join the curricula developing teams. December 2015 Page | 16

The 1st International Expo for Renewable Energy, 19-20-21 October ،2015

The 1st International Expo for Renewable Energy kicked off on 19 October 2015 at Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus. The 3-day expo features dozens of local, Arab, and international companies specializing in energy, cables, power distribution lines, industrial e-solutions, technology products, generators, alternative and renewable energy sources, water treatment, storage, heating and cooling equipment, and environment-friendly systems for housing, industries, and agriculture. The expo featured lectures on developments facing the electric power sector, the Electricity Ministry‘s vision for the future, conservation of energy, solar power, and investment and regulation of the power sector. The Expo showed the importance of investing in renewable energy to provide Syria‘s power needs, noting that the Ministry is working on legislations to encourage private sector investments and partnership in this field, which should provide thousands of job opportunities, adding that there are projects in this sector that are being established that will provide up to 40 megawatt per hour to the power grid by the end of the year. The expo is organized by the Syrian International Marketing Association (SIMA) in cooperation with the Electricity Ministry, with support for the Syrian Chambers of Commerce Federation and the Damascus Engineers Syndicate.

December 2015 Page | 17

Syria Tech Expo 21-24 October ،2015

The Syria Tech expo for IT and communications opened at Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus, organized by Mosaic Group for Expos and Conferences. 28 local IT and communication companies, scientific establishments, and educational establishments participated in the three-day expo. This event shows that Syrians are still capable of creative, productive, and innovative work despite the crisis. ICT 2015, Lisbon Oct. 20-22 Expos like this, which have been absent for around GWA attended the ICT 2015, Lisbon Oct. 20-22. five years, are vital in introducing IT solutions to This event was a great occasion for GWA to interested parties from various sectors that need understand better the ICT in Horizon 2020 and them. The expo seeks to help develop the IT sector work program of the 2016-2017, to have a clear by bringing exhibitors and the public together and view of the current ICT activity in Europe and learn showcase the latest innovations in this sector. more about the recent ICT research and innovation, to promote MOSAIC project, and to gain ideas for future projects and learn more about the role of ICT research and innovation in Europe. GWA gained better experience of the ICT activity in Europe. GWA attended in the first beginning of the event ―Ideal-IST2018_Collaboration workshop with CSAs in International Cooperation‖. GWA attended many useful lectures presented at the event such as: Presentation of H2020 Work Program 2016-17 and Instruments, Innovation Potential in the Digital Age, Driving Innovation through Creativity and the Arts. GWA visited and discussed with several European projects such as: ―Magic‖, ―GEANT‖ (Networks, Services, People), The ―RRI-ICT Forum project‖ (Societal Responsibility in ICT Research and innovation), Women in ICT, ―Connect 2 Sea‖ (Connecting ICT in Europe and South East Asia).

As Syrian partner to MOSAIC‘s project, GWA representative has done an interview with the Portuguese Television Canal 3 and present the main ideas of MOSAIC project. It was a great opportunity to gain experience and to have a vast look of the current & future projects of Horizon 2020.

December 2015 Page | 18

papers, a common vision and the strategic research and innovation agenda. Interactive round table discussions in several events completed the picture and allowed to gather concrete information and willingness of stakeholders to enter a concrete phase. First informal contributions and thus engagements from external stakeholders started the ―life‖ of the MOSAIC platforms in the Maghreb and the Mashrek regions, including industry representatives. During interactions in several events and various countries, HC prepared a ground for industry engagement and hopefully the sustainability after the project time. Focus on Mediterranean countries Recently, HC participated at the official launch of the MOSAIC Maghreb in Rabat, Morocco (24-25 November 2015), were concrete topics have been identified together with all interested participants and future members of the platform. The same approach of interaction was successfully welcomed at the 1st Arabic Big Data Initiative hosted by Partner AUB (American University of Beirut) in Lebanon, an initiative on behalf of the Birzeit University (Palestine) and co-organized by Mashrek partners. This event can be perceived de facto as a kind of concrete launch of MOSAIC Mashrek activities. As the concept of a cluster or Technology Platform needed time to enter the spirits of the stakeholders, an important step was to prepare partners and also potential future members to the

MOSAIC platform and its SRIA, including industry

representatives who should lead the platform. This Awareness creation for industry engagement was discussed with HC participation at the 1st

focus event on Strategic Priorities organized by

Med-Dialogue in Tunis (7-8 May 2015), where HC One of the key issues during this second semester participated actively in explaining and guiding 2015 was to put efforts and focus on industry round tables in the World Café Style, with regard to engagement. the ICT R&D&I interests of the attendees. One As representative for international cooperation for round table was conducted in English language, the NEM-ETP (New European Media – European mainly for attendees from the Mashrek region, and Technology Platform), Holken Consultants & another one in French, often more accessible for Partners (HC) focussed in cooperation with MOSAIC some of the Maghreb participants. partners, particularly on awareness creation about Among others, HC prepared also presentation industry engagement during the last months. This material for the coordinators for the common Med- was done through presentations of the New Dialogue/Mosaic event in Blida (Algeria, 3-4 European Media NEM structure: concrete examples November) 2015 and the common Workshop in underlined how NEM and an ETP as such are Tunisia (5-6 November 2015), allowing the organised, and how stakeholders and members of discussion around concrete platform issues. HC the platform develop and write together position December 2015 Page | 19

participated also remotely in events or discussions during a NEM workshop in Paris located Cap organised by partners. Digital‘s8 event Future en Seine (11-14 June This kind of interactive actions clearly built on 2015)9. France has historically a long relationship presentations and discussions that HC initiated with the Maghreb and also with some of the already during the previous semesters. One of the Mashrek countries, which explains that there is an important issues concerning best practice interest for the MOSAIC project. exchanges appeared for example during the CSA Further third countries Concertation and Clustering Workshop organized In further extra-European countries, and upon by Planet SA at the Innovation Week in Casablanca invitation, HC discussed publicly MOSAIC (Morocco, 2 March 2015), where HC represented experiences and feedback from other local clusters, the MOSAIC coordinators and the project. for example during the ECCA Cluster Networking Events in European countries event in Tbilisi/Georgia (9-11 September 2015)10, In European countries, HC discussed issues with where it was important to exchange on best stakeholders at the ICT 2015 event in practices and especially to exchange on industrial Lisbon/Portugal (October 2015), where HC stakeholder integration into the technology participated in the international cluster area at the platforms or clusters with regard to setting up EU-Med ICT1 booth held by Med-Dialogue2, international consortia within the H2020 ClusMed3 and MOSAIC4. HC set also relationships at programme. the BDVA Summit (Big Data Value Association) in Madrid/Spain (June 2015), and at the NEM Steering Board Meeting, the GA and NEM Summit at the Frankfurt Book Fair5 in Germany with interested stakeholders in media and creative industries (14-17 September 2015). Earlier this year HC participated at the launch of NEM Portugal (30 Januray 2015), where creative and ICT stakeholders expressed also their interests in favour of possible discussions with the MOSAIC stakeholders. The International Club of the French regional cluster Images & Réseaux6 invited Hadmut Holken from HC to speak about MOSAIC (12 October 2015), which matched with MOSAIC objectives as among others North African and further African representatives were present in the panel, among whom the very dynamic Maroc Numeric Cluster (MNC)7, which appeared later on to play an active role within MOSAIC Maghreb at the ICT media level, and to anticipate through MOSAIC the future. MOSAIC was also discussed

1 http://www.eumed-ict.eu/ 2 http://www.med-dialogue.eu/ 3 http://www.clusmed.eu/ 8 4 http://www.capdigital.com/ http://www.mosaic-med.eu/ 9 5 http://www.futur-en-seine.paris/ http://www.buchmesse.de/en/fbf/ 10 6 http://eeca-ict.eu/usefull- http://www.images-et-reseaux.com/fr information/events/icalrepeat.detail/2015/09/09/43/- 7 http://www.marocnumericcluster.org/ /networking-community-building-event December 2015 Page | 20

December 2015 Page | 21