Director, Information Technology Centre

1
Royal Scientific Society Participation in EU
Projects Success Stories and Lessons Learnt
Dr. Saqer Abdel-Rahim,

• Director, Information Technology Centre
• Royal Scientific Society
• Email saqer_at_rss.gov.jo

Third Jordan National TEMPUS Day, 4th March 2008
2
Introduction
The Royal Scientific Society (RSS) was
established in 1970 in accordance with a Royal
Decree. RSS is a not-for-profit institution
enjoying financial and administrative
independence. It aims at conducting scientific
and technological research and development work
related to the development process in Jordan
with special attention to industrial research
and services. It also aims at disseminating
awareness in the scientific and technological
fields and providing specialized technical
consultations and services to the public and
private sectors. The RSS includes 9 technical
centres and four administrative centres.
3
The Information Technology Centre
The Information Technology Centre (ITC) was
founded in 1972, two years after the
establishment of the Royal Scientific Society
(RSS). It was the first to introduce
computerization in Jordan. In 1992 the centre
expanded its operations to cover industrial
studies and conduct long term specialized
training courses in the field of Information
Technology at the regional level in cooperation
with Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA). ITC is committed to maintaining
well-performed applied research and specialized
technical consultation and services based on
approved national and international standards,
procedures and methods of software development
and studies, ITC has been ISO 9001 certified
since January 2001 and has also adopted RUP
(Rational Unified Process) in project
implementation.
4
At the same time RSS has concentrated on
building capacity and professional expertise in
important fields like Project Management ( 10 RSS
IT Project Mangers attended the 3 week PMP
Training and are preparing for PMP
certification), Presentation Skills, Customer
Relations, Database Design and Administration and
Software Development (.NET, Oracle, Java,
PHP ..etc)
5
Fields of work
- Research and Development Conducting applied
research locally and internationally through
partnership with concerned international
institutions in the various fields of
information Technology utilizing an advanced
network of computers and the skillful manpower
available at the centre. - IT consultations
requirement analysis This involves the
identification of the computerization needs of
institutions in terms of information systems,
hardware, software, applications, and training.
In addition, master plan of implementation,
network design, evaluation of bids, and
supervision of implementation are provided. Many
institutions and ministries have taken avail of
these services.
6
- Software development Software development
entails establishment of integrated management
information systems, including system analysis,
design, programming, testing, system
integration, acceptance, user training, and
documentation. Applications include financial and
administrative systems, election systems, web
sites applications, billing systems, WAP
application, e-applications, student registration
systems, library systems, and so on. Clients
include local and international organizations,
such as IBM. - Advanced training Conducting
specialized training courses in the various IT
fields including short-term and long-term. the
center is recognized by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a regional training
center in software Engineering, web computing,
multimedia and networking design courses. The
centre is also accredited by UNISCO as a training
and testing centre for the International
Computer Driving License(ICDL).
7
EU Projects
8
Completed EU Projects
9

Project Description Textile Application of High Performance Computing in the  Middle East (THEME) THEME project aims at increasing the uptake of High Performance Computing (HPC) based quality control within the textile industry in the Middle East.
Partners Jordan, Germany, Greece and Egypt.
Duration 30 Months (November 1998 May 2001)
Textile Application of High Performance
Computing in the  Middle East (THEME)
10

Project Description Mediterranean Science and Technology Information Network (MEDISAT)
Partners Jordan, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey, Germany and United Kingdom.
Duration 26 Months (January 1998 March 2000)

11

Project Description CJIS to set up a framework to build distributed interactive multimedia networks over the Internet and World Wide Web that would act as Electronic Roads for cultural and historical exploration in five Euro-Med countries with particular emphasis on the cross national links of these Electronic Roads.
Partners Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and Spain.
Duration 36 Months (November 1998 October 2001)
12

Project Description MEDRSSA II To provide access for European SMEs to emerging markets in the Mediterranean countries.
Partners Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia.
Duration 33 Months (March 2001 December 2003)
WWW www.medressa.com
13

Project Description HERMES To boost Euro-Mediterranean collaboration in areas that constitute the intersection of the Information Society Technologies Program IT Nodes activities. This is part of the EU-EUMEDIS initiative
Partners Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Greece, Germany and Turkey.
Duration 37 Months (December 2001 January 2004)
WWW http//hayyam.srdc.metu.edu.tr/webpage/projects/hermesProject/
14
ICT-MED-SMEs ICT-MED-SMEs
Project Description Information Communications Technology solutions in the Mediterranean SMEs (ICT-MED-SMEs) promoting ICT solutions among Small and Medium Enterprises from eight third Mediterranean Countries. On a more general scope, it intends to contribute to facilitate the access to the New Economy to the SMEs from this region.
Partners Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Cyprus, Turkey, Denmark and Spain.
Duration 40 Months (October 2002 June 2006)
WWW www.ictmedsme.com
15

Project Description EmedTex development of an Euro-Mediterranean partnership network in the textile sector. This involves the compilation of a database of Mediterranean textile companies and rendering it available through the Internet, and training of concerned parties in e-commerce
Partners France, Greece, Jordan, Syria, Germany, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco
Duration 24 Months (November 2002 November 2004)
WWW http//www.atc.gr/emed-texnet/
16

Project Description Improving Competitiveness of SMEs through IT-based Environmental Planning (SMITE) A Mediterranean web-based node is to be created to provide information for the food, textile hotel sectors and support networking activities.
Partners Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Malta, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Denmark.
Duration 36 Months (April 2002 April 2005)
WWW http//smite.chemeng.ntua.gr/
17

Project Name Daedalus to provide the professionals and the mass market with a flexible, dynamic, cost-effective, easy to deploy Mediterranean reference framework that will enable the establishment and the management of local communities of interest working in the area of tourism and culture heritage.
Partners Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey, Cyprus, Luxemburg, Italy, Greece and France.
Duration 58 Months (August 2001 - June 2006)
18
ONGOING EU Projects
19

Project Description Portable system for analyzing paintings and polychrome objects (InfrArtSonic) development of an integrated portable analytical system for the non-destructive "sampling" and characterization of paintings and polychrome objects. The system will be employed at first priority into the investigation of Euro Mediterranean cultural heritage objects.
Partners Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Germany, Greece, Italy and Cyprus.
Starting date Expected 36 Months (January 2006 January 2009)
WWW www.infrartsonic.org

20
Mediterranean Information Society

• The ICT Research Link between Europe
• and all Mediterranean Partner Countries

20
21
Aims of the Project

1. Help the MPC to develop ICT Research Agendas
   towards EU research collaboration, and develop a
   Policy Paper for the EU for targeted research
   integration of the MPC
2. Create awareness for the opportunities of the EU
   Framework Programme for Research Development
3. Identify promising players in the region
4. Train them to become knowledgeable partners in
   Framework proposals
5. Establish networks across the region and with
   Europe

22
Partners

• Planet S.A. (Coordinator) Greece
• IT Consult GmbH.. Germany
• Ministry of Communications Information
• Technologies. Egypt
• Ministère des Affaires Economiques et
  Générales.Morocco
• Euromag Consulting Algeria
• Centre National de lInformatique...... Tu
  nisia
• Royal Scientific Society... Jordan
• Palestine Academy of Science Technology..
  Palestine
• Ministry of Telecommunications. Lebanon
• Ministry of Communications Technology.. Syr
  ia

23
WP 1 The MPC Research Agenda Defining the
Consultation Process Conducting the Workshops
Recommendations for a Research Agenda
The Project Workplan
WP 2 Mapping of Research Organisations Identify
ing relevant organisations Mapping of skills
and capabilities Creating the Directory of MPC
Organisations
WP 3 Mentoring Workshops Preparation of
training curricula Delivery and evaluation of
training courses Set-up of ICT Help Desk
Services
WP 4 Network Facilitation Dissemination
Website development Promotion in
EU Dissemination in MPC
24
ICT-IN-SYRIA ICT-IN-SYRIA
Project Description Software Development and Technical Assistance for NISFED. E-Government and ICT Standards Application in Syria. The project aims at transferring the entire EU experience and best practices in this regard to Syria,  by designing and implementing a number of complex ICT systems in a form of three main streams.
Partners Jordan, Syria, Greece, Germany
Starting date 24 Months August 2006 August 2008

25
Examples of Successful projects

26

401. ICT solutions for Mediterranean SMEs
27
This project has been partially funded by the
European Commission DG AIDCO under the EUMEDIS
initiative. The contet of this publication is the
sole responsibility of the project partners
listed herein, and in no way represents the view
of the European Commission or its services.

Contract number B7-4100/2000/2165-075
p401 Project acronym ICT Med SMEs Project name
ICT Solutions for Mediterranean SMEs Action line
ICT applied to Industry and Innovation Total
cost () 2.374.912 Commission funding ()
1.899.930
28
Project Coordinator

• Fundació CIREM
• Centre of European Initiatives and Research in
  the Mediterranean
• Project Coordinator Inés GÓMEZ
• Address Travessera de les Corts, 39-43 lat. 2ª
• 08028 Barcelona SPAIN
• Tel. [phone] Fax. [phone]
• e-mail i.gomez_at_cirem.org / f.cirem_at_cirem.org
• http//www.cirem.org

29
Partners of the project

• F. CIREM (Spain) is the co-ordinator of the
  project in partnership with DTI (Denmark)
• Morocco Ecole Mohammadia d'Ingenieurs.
  Université Mohammed V
• Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce
• Algeria Institut Nacional pour le Travail
• Association Nationale pour l'Entreprise et le
  Travail
• Institut de Formation Professionnelle de
  Birkhadem
• Tunisia Cemaref. Centre Mohamed Ali de
  Recherches, d'Etudes et de Formation
• Ministère de la Formation Professionnelle et
  de l'Emploi
• Jordan Royal Scientific Society (RSS)
• National Centre for Human Resources
  Development (NCHRD)
• Vocational Training Corporation
• Lebanon Centre for Sponsored RD. Lebanese
  American University
• Syria Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and
  Technologies (HIAST)
• Intermediate Computer Engineering Institute
  (ICEI)
• Turkey Hacettepe University
• Turkish Foundation for Small and Medium
  Business (TOSYOV)
• Cyprus Cyprus Institute of Technology

30
Project Goal

• Contribute to SME development in Mediterranean
  countries by providing IT solutions enabling
  enterprises to improve their internal work
  procedures, management of knowledge, transfer of
  innovations, production and commerce.
• Target Groups
• Young graduates and employees who receive
  training
• SMEs that benefit from qualified personnel and
  from the ICT advising services
• SMEs who are users of the virtual network

31
Area of intervention

() Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria, Turkey Cyprus
32
Project Specific Goals

• WP0 - Management and Co-ordination
• Promoting the project
• Monitoring and quality control procedure of the
  project
• Administrative and financial report to the
  Commission

• WP1 Survey
• To know the strengths and weaknesses of the
  Mediterranean countries for facing the challenges
  of the Information Society
• SMEs needs regarding IT applications and human
  resource requirements

• WP2 Training Plan
• Preparing people to face the needs of the SMEs
  regarding ICT
• Establishing continuous training mechanisms and
  procedures within SMEs

33
Project Specific Goals (II)

• WP3 Pilot Projects
• Setting up innovative ICT solutions in
  Mediterranean SMEs
• Contributing to the north-south transfer of
  knowledge and innovations
• Acquiring experiences that may then be spread to
  all SMEs

• WP4 Virtual Community
• Exchanging experiences and information among the
  participants
• Network at the service of SMEs for information,
  communication, experience sharing and
  benchmarking on best practices in the field

• WP5 Dissemination of the Project
• Promote the Eumedis Programme in countries where
  there are partners
• Disseminating the scopes of the project to
  achieve the greater collaboration of authorities,
  partners and means of communication

34
WP0 - Co-ordination Results

• Establishment of a strong regional network of 12
  public and private institutions across the
  region.
• Collaboration of national and regional
  authorities within the project.
• External funding from the Spanish ant the
  Catalonian Governments.

• www.ictmedsme.com
• Design of a virtual platform for the partners
  communication, debate and interchange of
  experiences, documents and information.
  

35
WP1 Results of the Study Computers

lt The enterprises have an average of 26.73 of
employees using information technologies, witch
is consistent with the 27.99 of workers with PC/
workstation in the workplace. lt The number of
workers with portable computer decreases down to
5,35 and the proportion of workers with cellular
is, the 24,4.
The operating system used by the enterprises of
the survey is Microsoft technology up to the
89,5.
36
Internet Connections
The 78,8 of enterprises are connected or have
the connection in perspective. The browser used
is the Microsoft Internet Explorer with an
overwhelming 93,9. gt

lt The mentioned connection is usually done
through the modemphone line option. Only the
20,1 uses broadbandwidth.
37
Use of Email within SMEs

The use of external e-mail is widespread among
the firms up to the 69,9. Usually firms have
just one mailbox for the whole company (53,7)
and only the 18 have personal mailbox for each
employee. Microsoft is again the computer brand
used through the 72,5 of firms.
In fact the 50,9 of enterprises of the survey
have not corporate website even that the 14,1
plan to have it.
38
WP2 - Training

• Development of the training curricula on ICT
  Basic Skills and Support for Local Networks
  Administration.
• Training of trainers on the internal
  communication platform.
• Training of partners on the MEDSME Platform
• More than 250 young people trained in handling
  basic new technologies.
• More than 600 employees of SMEs trained within
  the project.

39
WP3 Pilot Projects

To develop the DODI Methodology for the
Diagnosis and Analysis of the SMEs participant
into the Pilot Projects Identification of
technological needs within 35 SMEs participating
in the pilot projects Setting up innovative
ICT solutions (new technology and training)
within 35 SMEs
40
WP4 Virtual Platform
Development of the virtual platform
www.medsme.com More than 2000 SMEs
registered and acting on the MEDSME platform.

41
WP5 - Dissemination

• Promotion of the EUMEDIS Programme with the
  celebration of the ICT MED SME International
  Conference in Barcelona (Spain, April 2004)
  within the framework of the Forum Universal of
  Cultures.
• Dissemination of the activities of the project
  in the region, through the celebration of
  seminars and info-days on the MEDSME Platform.
• Publication of news on e-media and local
  newspapers.

42
Publications

WP5
WP1
WP4
43
Impact

• Development of mechanisms of co-operation among
  the various actors within the MEDA region
• Development of close links among the users of the
  virtual community
• Better performance of the companies where the
  pilot projects are successful
• Adaptation of all the project contents to the
  particular needs on each country
• Additional value for trained people and
  improvement in their working life
• Improvement of the education of the young
  graduates and employees

44

ICT-MED-SMEs Amman
45

RSS Achievements in the project
46
WP01Survey of SMEs in Jordan Requirements

• Findings needs for
• Training on computer skills ,network management
  ,and project management
• Introducing ICT solutions
• Using internet for eCommerce.

47
WP02TRAINING COURSES

• Computer skills course (ICDL) for 20
  participants, August 2003
• Network management course for 20 participants,
  September 2004
• Project Management for Professionals (PMP) for 20
  participants, august 2005
• Benchmarking ,Dubai ,November 2005

48
WP03 PILOT PROJECTS

• Computerization requirement analysis study for 5
  companies in Jordan representing the following
  sectors
• Food
• Pharmaceutical
• Textile
• Plastic
• Electronics
• Two of them have implemented integrated
  manufacturing packages and three have started to
  partially implement integrated financial and
  administrative information systems.

49
WP04 Virtual Platform

• The RSS team redesigned and developed a new user
  friendly platform using low cost tools.
• The website has been hosted at RSS since 2007.
• 445 companies have been registered to the website

50
WP05 Dissemination

• Awareness meetings
• Visits to SMEs
• Press releases
• Link to RSS website
• Info day on 29th march 2006

51
Conferences attended
Place Date Title
Barcelona April -2003 Barcelona Conference
Dead Sea , Jordan April - 2005 First EUMEDIS International Conference
Dead Sea , Jordan June 2005 IT Forum
Egypt February -2006 Second EUMEDIS International Conference

52
Seminars/Info days organized
Number and people attending Place Date Topic
80 RSS 1/2/2004 Awareness Day
100 RSS 29/3/2006 Info Day

53
MEDRESSA II
54
MEDRESSA II
Expanding Mediterranean IT Markets for
Europe Access for European Small and Medium
Enterprises in the Information Technology domain
to New Markets in the South Mediterranean
Countries Funded by the European Commission
IST-1999-29058
55
THE MISSION

• Open New Markets for European SMEs in South Med
  Countries.
• Run Brokerage and Partnership Events for
  Europeans in 6 South Med Countries.
• Run Technology Awareness meetings with companies
  and associations in the South Med Countries.
• Provide Europeans with focused analyses of local
  South Med markets and business opportunities.

56
THE MEDRESSA SERVICE

• The Brokerage and Partnership Events
• EU Companies will be invited to join these events
  to
• present their products / developments
• meet business partners, both for marketing and
  joint development
• Country Information
• Short reports on the local economy
• Specific reports on the selected sector
• Contact points in the countries

57
Methodology I
58
Methodology I
24 Partnership Events until end of 2003
59
Methodology II

• The WEB Information Base
• A repository of all products presentations from
  the Partnership Events
• Contact data of all EU companies who participated
• Contact data of the Med Participants
• Country and sector reports
• Partnership / Technology requests from both sides
  at any time

60
The European View

• Share Existing Products or Developments
• Broaden the scope of their applicability
• Direct Exploitation of new markets
• Prepare for the Future
• Take into account the requirements of SMCs
• Identify appropriate partners in SMCs
• Pave the way for New Partnerships

61
The SMCs View

• Benefit from existing technology
• Adapt and Utilise existing products and
  technology
• Take advantage of the know-how
• Participate in the RD Process
• Take into account SMCs needs at an early stage
• Establish strong relationship with the European
  RD community

62
The Problems

• On the SMC Side
• lack of knowledge of what is available
• lack of experience in certain technological areas
• small or missing IT Company base
• On the European Side
• lack of general knowledge about SMCs
• difficulties in finding business partners

63
The Medressa II Network

• Standardata in Egypt
• Centre National de lInformatique in Tunisia
• EMI Ecole Mohammedia dIngénieurs in Morocco
• Higher Institute of Applied Science and
  Technology in Syria
• Lebanese University in Lebanon
• Royal Scientific Society in Jordan
• Consorzio Pisa Ricerche in Italy
• Danish International in France
• F2i Fundació Indústries de la Informació in
  Spain
• IT Consult GmbH in Germany (Co-ordinator)

64
Project Main Achievements

• Each of the South Mediterranean partners
  organized four workshops during the
• project.
• The RSS organized four workshops in Jordan in the
  following areas
• IT in the Textile industry
• IT and Cultural Heritage
• e-Procurement
• e-Health