HRH Princess Sumaya on Wednesday attended the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the UK’s department of business, energy and industry strategies and the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

The agreement aims to establish the Newton-Khalidi Fund, named in honour of the late Osama Khalidi, a Jordanian scholar who had a long career as a biochemistry researcher, a Planning Ministry statement said.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury and UK Ambassador to Jordan Edward Oakden. 

The signing ceremony was also attended by Khaled Shuraideh, secretary general of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST). 

The £3.5 million memorandum will be implemented through the HCST and the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) over four years, the statement added.

Areas of cooperation will include research on Jordan’s energy needs, cultural heritage, water security, agricultural technology and food security, biotechnology and biosecurity, nanotechnology and developing the skills and abilities of researchers, according to the statement. 

The agreement also supports the Jordan 2025 Document, the 2025 Development Agenda and the Executive Development Programme of the Government, including the priorities of the Economic Growth Stimulation Plan and in accordance with the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah, the statement added.

The minister noted that the MoU aims to encourage and support research and innovation capacities in the Kingdom, in order to achieve long-term, sustainable growth and expand cooperation between government policy makers, research organisations, higher education institutions, companies and institutions in research and innovation.

Comment by British Council:
This is an exciting news for UK's institutes who are keen to develop partnerships between UK and Jordan. The British Council will keep the ears on the ground to give interested UK institutes the most updated news around this area.