His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal, Chairman of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST), reaffirmed that human capital remains the most valuable national investment, calling for high quality education systems capable of enhancing competitiveness and driving sustainable development.

Speaking at the opening of the conference “Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry in Jordan,” held under his patronage and attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Prince El Hassan underscored the need to strengthen partnerships between universities and the productive sectors. He called for greater support for applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship to ensure that academic outcomes align with labour market demands. The opening ceremony was also attended by University of Jordan President Prof. Nathir Obeidat, vice presidents and several deans, reflecting the shared national commitment to advancing research and innovation.

The conference, organised by HCST in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, comes as part of broader national efforts to reinforce Jordan’s research and innovation ecosystem. In his address, Prince El Hassan highlighted persistent structural challenges, including limited funding for industry oriented research and insufficient infrastructure for technology incubation. He stressed the importance of aligning higher education and scientific research with international standards to strengthen Jordan’s economic competitiveness.

HCST Secretary-General Dr. Mashhour Al-Refai emphasised that knowledge based development cannot advance unless universities and industry become genuine strategic partners. He noted that private sector spending on research and development in Jordan remains modest compared with public investment, illustrating the gap that continues to separate academic outputs from industrial needs.