The Academy and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

The Academy and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) Sign a Memorandum of Understanding

13 November, 2018

Dr. Awad emphasized that this agreement comes in the context of enhancing joint cooperation and developing work in the fields of scientific research, science, technology and innovation, and using data to serve national goals and objectives, considering that PCBS produces the official statistical figures in Palestine, and raw data eligible for public use, while it works to disseminate these data and maximize their use in the field of planning, research and scientific studies and academia. Dr. Awad added that the Bureau has the desire and readiness to cooperate with the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology on maximizing the use of statistical data in the fields of scientific research, science, technology and innovation.

In turn, Dr. Awartani praised the signing of the MoU, which establishes a strategic partnership with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), aimed at developing, institutionalizing and sustaining the National Observatory for Science, Technology and Innovation (STIO), which will provide data, statistical indicators and periodic surveys of different aspects of science, technology and innovation in various academic, productive and governmental sectors, and in close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders. Stressing the vitality of these indicators as inputs for the development of plans and policy formulation, prioritization, monitoring of trends and performance evaluation. Dr. Awartani also noted that making these indicators an integral part of government statistics is an important step towards highlighting the status of science, technology and innovation and its role in sustainable economic and social development. 

The MoU aims at developing the theoretical framework and the scientific methodology for periodic monitoring of indicators related to science, technology, scientific research and innovation in accordance with international standards and best practices in this field, in cooperation with Palestinian partner institutions and relevant international bodies, while conducting appropriate periodic surveys in targeted sectors and publishing the results in periodic bulletins on the status and condition of science, scientific research, technology and innovation. The agreement also necessitates the analysis and facilitation of data use by the relevant parties as inputs to rationalize and justify policies, as well as the development of databases on Palestinian competencies and expertise at home and abroad, and facilitation of mutual use of knowledge resources such as data, facilities, technologies and systems, while maintaining privacy and confidentiality in certain cases. Therefore, in addition to the common commitment to institutionalize and sustain the above areas of cooperation through the National Observatory for Science, Technology and Innovation, as a form of sustainable cooperation between the two parties, there's a work plan for establishing a national Palestinian Data Science Society, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders at home and abroad.

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