VZCZCXRO9669
RR RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM
DE RUEHAM #2154/01 1991135
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171135Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3142
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHDOI/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 AMMAN 002154 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA, AND OES 
STATE PASS TO NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
STATE ALSO PASS TO NIH/INTERNATIONAL 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/SENHADJI 
COMMERCE FOR NIST/INTERNATIONAL 
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL 
WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/ROLF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TSPL SENV PREL EAID TBIO TPHY ETRD JO
SUBJECT: U.S.-Jordan Joint Committee Meeting Forms Seven Working 
Groups for Science and Technology Cooperation 
 
REF:  07 AMMAN 2606 
 
¶1.  Summary: The first meeting of Jordan-United States Joint 
Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation (JCM)   resulted in 
new energy initiatives, enhanced collaboration on environmental 
issues, and the formation of seven separate working groups on water, 
environment, energy, agriculture, education, health, and innovation. 
 Dr. Anwar Battikhi, Secretary General of the Higher Council for 
Science and Technology, and Ambassador Reno Harnish, Bureau of 
Oceans, Environment, and Science Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, co-chaired the JCM which included representatives from 
nine USG agencies and the National Academy of Sciences.  The two-day 
event also received significant local media coverage.  American and 
Jordanian participants considered the JCM a success; however, real 
success will depend in large measure on the traction and 
collaborations that can be established by the working groups.  Full 
text of the JCM statement can be found in paragraph 8.  End 
Summary. 
 
JCM Identifies Priorities for S&T Collaboration 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2.  The Jordan-United States Joint Committee on Science and 
Technology Cooperation (JCM) held its first meeting July 9-10, 2008, 
at the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST).  Dr. Anwar 
Battikhi, HCST Secretary General, and Ambassador Reno Harnish, 
Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, served as the co-chairs for this first meeting 
resulting from the U.S.-Jordan S&T Agreement which entered into 
force June 12, 2007 (reftel).  The co-chairs signed a Joint 
Statement at the closing session on July 10. 
 
¶3.  The JCM reaffirmed the shared goal to enhance science and 
technology (S&T) cooperation.  It also established as the areas of 
highest priority water, environment, energy, agriculture, education, 
and health, and established seven working groups to convene 
regularly through email and conference calls and report back to the 
larger body.  The Committee agreed to focus on commercialization and 
entrepreneurial partnerships between the two countries' respective 
S&T communities.  The meetings, which attracted significant local 
media coverage, were intense and deemed a resounding success by the 
participants.  A comprehensive list of areas for future 
collaboration were summarized in the Joint Statement released on 
July 10 (paragraph 8). 
 
New Initiatives in S&T 
---------------------- 
 
¶4.  The ESTH Officer at Embassy/Amman provided the JCM with an 
overview of many ongoing U.S.-Jordan ESTH collaborations.  In 
addition to confirming continued support for these ongoing 
engagements, several new U.S. proposed initiatives were presented at 
the JCM, including: 
 
-- Energy:  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed assisting 
the Government of Jordan (GOJ) to develop an energy ratings system. 
A DOE workshop would provide the GOJ and the private sector with the 
necessary tools to determine energy savings against less efficient 
alternatives, consistent with DOE's Energy Star Program.  The ESTH 
Officer also highlighted USAID's energy program and $6 million 
allocation in FY 08 to commence pilot projects in the energy 
sector; 
 
-- Seismology:  The Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) 
proposed supporting Jordan in the installation and operation of the 
first seismic array in Jordan.  The proposal for roughly $3 million 
in equipment and technical assistance would enhance Jordan's seismic 
monitoring capabilities while supporting Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 
monitoring by AFTAC; 
 
-- Environment:  Collaborations commencing shortly include 
additional capacity building for Jordan's environmental regulators 
at the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the Environmental Rangers, 
and judges to enforce Jordan's environmental laws.  Through the 
Embassy Science Fellow program, Post will assist the MOE in planning 
the rehabilitation of environmental hotspots such as the Russeifah 
 
AMMAN 00002154  002 OF 006 
 
 
landfill site. 
 
-- Standards:  The National Institute for Standards and Technology 
(NIST) proposed a workshop to discuss the establishment of a 
regional science and technology training center in Jordan through a 
partnership with HCST and the Royal Scientific Society (RSS).  The 
regional center would build upon the many regional training programs 
NIST has already undertaken in Jordan with the Jordan National 
Metrology Institute and the Jordan Institute of Standards and 
Metrology. 
 
-- Innovation:  Dr. Battikhi will support efforts to launch the 
Jordan Science and Technology Initiative pilot with the Institute 
for Capital and Creativity (IC2) affiliated with the University of 
Texas at Austin to develop commercialization strategies for 20 
Jordanian innovations.  The innovation working group will explore 
training opportunities on the patenting process as well as pre and 
post patent procedures. 
 
¶5.  Comment:  While the S&T agreement has no associated funding, it 
is expected that the working groups will identify the highest 
priority projects and submit funding requests to the relevant U.S. 
agencies.  The Joint Statement reflects the many ongoing and planned 
collaborations between the two countries, as well as the many areas 
of concern where the Jordanians want to collaborate with the U.S. 
The ongoing challenge will be for the working groups to convene 
regularly, gain traction, weed through the long list of priorities, 
and ensure the genuine top priorities can result in meaningful 
funded projects.  End comment. 
 
Broad Participation from U.S. and Jordan 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The Joint Committee was composed of participants from U.S. and 
Jordanian science and technology-focused government agencies as well 
as academia, civil society organizations, and private sector 
representatives.  The 18-member U.S. Delegation included 
representatives from nine government agencies as well as the 
National Academy of Sciences:  the Environmental Protection Agency, 
the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the 
National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology at the Department of Commerce, the Department of 
State, the Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Geological Survey, 
and USAID.  GOJ participants included the heads of all the HCST 
departments, as well as representatives from the Ministry of 
Environment, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, 
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and 
Irrigation, and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. 
Approximately 40 experts also attended, including scientists from 
the RSS, several academic institutions, as well as civil society 
organizations. 
 
¶7.  Also in attendance as observers were representatives from the 
American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan, the USAID Sustainable 
Achievement of Business Expansion and Quality (SABEQ) Program, the 
Civilian Research Development Foundation, and the private sector. 
The presence of business representatives underscored the importance 
the JCM places on innovation and commercialization of technologies, 
as a means of sustaining and expanding S&T capacity-building in 
Jordan. 
 
Joint Statement Text 
-------------------- 
 
¶8.  The following is the text of the Joint Statement: 
 
The Jordan-United States Joint Committee on Science and Technology 
Cooperation held its first meeting (JCM) on July 9-10, 2008, at the 
headquarters of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST) 
in Amman, Jordan.  The co-chairs of the JCM, Dr. Anwar Battikhi, 
Secretary General of the HCST, and Ambassador Reno Harnish, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, 
Environment and Science, opened the meeting with welcoming remarks. 
 
The Joint Committee is composed of representatives from U.S. and 
Jordanian science and technology (S&T)-focused government agencies. 
 
AMMAN 00002154  003 OF 006 
 
 
Also in attendance as observers were representatives from the 
American Jordan Chamber of Commerce, the USAID/SABEQ Program, and 
the Civilian Research and Development Foundation.  The presence of 
business representatives at the JCM underscores the importance that 
the United States and Jordan place on innovation and 
commercialization of technologies, using entrepreneurial 
partnerships as a means of sustaining and expanding S&T capacity 
building in Jordan. 
 
The Joint Committee will meet at regular intervals under the 
framework of the Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation 
between the United States and Jordan that came into effect in June 
¶2007.  The Committee's purpose is to enhance cooperation in areas of 
science and technology, higher education, and engineering, and to 
strengthen the capacity of education, research, and innovation 
between U.S. and Jordanian technical agencies, institutions of 
higher education, and research establishments - in the specific 
areas of highest priority such as water, environment, energy, 
agriculture, education, health, and innovation.  The Joint Committee 
is also mandated to enable commercialization and entrepreneurial 
partnerships between the two countries' respective S&T communities. 
The Joint Committee discussed the following areas of cooperation and 
agreed to explore further and expanded cooperation in them: 
 
Innovation and Commercialization 
-------------------------------- 
 
The Committee discussed Jordan's interest in expanding its 
innovation capacity to maintain a competitive edge in a global 
economy.  Recent steps to advance this goal have been the 
establishment of a network of technology incubators including 
I-Park, an incubator for information and communication technology 
(ICT) start-ups, and the creation of the Trilateral Industrial 
Development Fund (TRIDE) that serves as a catalyst for joint 
research and development among other funds.  Jordan received 
significant praise for its newly established Scientific Research 
Fund, for scientific endeavors, financially supported by an 
allocation of 1% of publicly traded company profits.  In order to 
meet the challenges of investing in commercialization of innovation, 
the Joint Committee recommended immediate investment in skills and 
in Research and Development (R&D), attraction of foreign investment, 
and creation of further incentives for innovation.  The Committee 
agreed to consider launching the Jordan Science and Technology 
Initiative (JSTI) pilot to develop commercialization strategies for 
20 Jordanian innovations and to explore cooperation in training on 
the patenting process as well as pre and post patent procedures. 
 
Energy 
------ 
 
The Joint Committee applauded the Jordanian pledge made at the 
Washington International Renewable Energy Conference in March 2008 
to target 10% of its energy needs being met by renewable energy 
sources by 2020 and noted the recent decisions to exempt all 
renewable energy equipment from import duties and taxes.  USAID 
Jordan completed an assessment of the energy sector in April 2008 
and based on this assessment is ready to support the GOJ in areas 
such as advancing energy efficiency and conservation; promoting a 
supportive, incentive based regulatory climate for demand-side 
management; supporting public-private partnerships in large-scale 
renewables and utilities markets; and improving access to credit for 
energy efficiency and renewables.  USAID support will include a $6 
million allocation in 2008 to commence pilot activities on public 
awareness campaigns, study tours, training and technical assistance. 
 
 
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will assist the GOJ develop an 
Energy Ratings system in partnership with the National Fenestration 
Ratings Council to provide the foundation for any energy efficient 
program including for windows, walls, foundations, roofs, doors, 
appliances and other products.  This workshop would provide the GOJ 
and the private sector with the tools to determine energy savings 
against less efficient alternatives.  This program is in keeping 
with DOE's Energy Star Program.  DOE will also facilitate the GOJ 
engaging in partnerships with appropriate International Energy 
Agency (IEA) Implementing Agreements (IAs). IA technology groups 
 
AMMAN 00002154  004 OF 006 
 
 
include solar systems, wind turbine systems, photo voltaic systems, 
ocean energy, biomass and geothermal R&D.  These IAs provide cost 
sharing, task sharing, harmonization of technical standards, 
stronger combined R&D capabilities, boosting trade and technology 
transfer. 
 
 
Education 
--------- 
 
The Committee highlighted Jordan's leadership role in higher 
education in the Middle East.  Members discussed several measures to 
strengthen science education in the Jordanian education system.  In 
the basic education sector the Committee agreed to explore 
cooperation in non-traditional teaching methods to improve critical 
thinking and problem solving skills.  In the higher education system 
in Jordan, cooperation proposes to focus on improving support for 
the continuous research engagement of faculty and encouraging them 
to provide research results that will address the social needs of 
Jordan. 
 
Seismology 
---------- 
 
The Committee discussed a U.S. proposal to collaborate with Jordan 
in the installation and operation of the first seismic array in 
Jordan.  The proposal for roughly $3 million in equipment and 
technical assistance would enhance Jordan's seismic monitoring 
capabilities while sharing data for the benefit of both countries. 
A working group will focus on this collaboration and conduct the 
noise survey, agree on a location, and jointly install the station. 
 
Water 
----- 
 
The working group will explore collaborations in conducting 
evaluations and assessments of all water assets in Jordan, which 
includes water quality and quantity using all of the data resources 
including remote sensing and in situ sensors. The prime objective is 
to introduce an improved water budget estimation procedure which 
will incorporate both water quality and quantity. The procedure will 
help match different qualities of water resources to the suitable 
type of use. Such a tool will also be beneficial in tracking 
possible changes in water budget elements as a result of climate 
change and droughts, and will consider all budget elements including 
green water. 
Climate change (CC) is expected to have significant negative impacts 
on Jordan. Possible collaboration areas could be development of 
protocols and tools for the assessment of the impacts of CC on water 
resources, quality of the environment, human health, and development 
of adaptation programs to alleviate impacts of CC. 
Another area of collaboration could include developing water 
resources management tools for both the water quantity and quality 
aspects. 
 
Environmental Protection 
------------------------ 
 
The Joint Committee reviewed the significant on-going cooperation on 
environmental issues between the two governments and civil society 
to promote improved environmental management and conservation of 
natural resources.  Environmental protection efforts include 
strengthening biodiversity conservation and protected area 
management, supporting capacity building for the enforcement of 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 
rules, as well as additional efforts to promote eco-tourism in 
Jordan.  Some of the pre-established concrete collaborations that 
will commence shortly include additional capacity building for 
Jordan's environmental regulators in the Ministry of the 
Environment, the Environmental Rangers, judges to enforce Jordan's 
environmental laws, and the finalization of bylaws relating to the 
Jordan Environment Fund (to promote environmental compliance) and 
the Inspection process.  The United States will assist the Ministry 
of Environment, through the Embassy Science Fellow program, to plan 
the rehabilitation of environmental hotspots such as the Russeifah 
landfill site. 
 
AMMAN 00002154  005 OF 006 
 
 
 
Participants praised the many personnel exchanges between the United 
States and Jordan which allow each side to benefit from the other's 
experiences.  In addition to the capacity building training program, 
Jordan will be sending several high level Environmental Rangers 
officials to participate in a study tour in October.  Two Jordanians 
are currently taking part in U.S. National Parks Fellowships to 
enhance biodiversity management skills; several members of the 
Ministry of Environment will be attending an environmental economics 
course at Stanford University; there have been several U.S. 
International Visitor Program exchanges related to environment, and 
water resource issues; and a Jordanian delegation will join regional 
colleagues at a global Water Reuse in Agriculture conference in the 
U.S. in October 2008.  The United States will also continue bringing 
scientists to Jordan through its speakers programs and science 
fellow programs to consult with and guide Jordanian counterparts on 
specific scientific issues. 
 
Agriculture 
----------- 
 
Due to the severe shortage of water resources, programs and 
activities related to water reuse and water use efficiencies in 
agriculture are a top cooperation priority for the Joint Committee. 
The problem has been more recently exacerbated by considerable urban 
expansion to arable land.  Recent developments in the worldwide food 
crisis have precipitated an increase in the price of feed for 
livestock, prompting the agricultural research sector to focus new 
efforts on alternative feed possibilities.  The Committee further 
suggested joint explorations for wild crop relatives, local 
horticultural varieties as well as seed production as mutually 
beneficial areas of cooperation.  Other potential cooperation areas 
are botanical inventories of crop relatives, development of a plant 
genetic resources collection, repatriation of germplasm originating 
in Jordan, food quality assurance capacity-building, natural 
resource management of soil and water using remote-sensing 
technology and the impact of climate change on agriculture. 
 
Health 
------ 
 
Jordan faces challenges in the health sector due to rising rates of 
chronic preventable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular 
disease, diabetes, tobacco-related illnesses and environmental 
illnesses, shortages in its public health force and no dedicated 
public health education program for research on areas such as mental 
health.  In addition, the relatively high fertility rate threatens 
continued improvement in health and standards of living and high 
mortality rates persist among newborns.  Issues related to patient 
and health care worker safety are of concern since these are costly 
and may lead to excess morbidity and mortality.  Jordan offers 
attractive opportunities for mutually beneficial research areas such 
as stem cell research, due to legal protection for these endeavors, 
and genome association due to genetically isolated populations.  The 
Committee explored cooperation to further develop public health 
education programs, improve public health workforce 
capacity-building and enhance research efforts into pediatrics, 
mental health, genetics, nutrition, standardization of medical 
records, and health research methodology. 
 
Jordan has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents in the 
world, increasing yearly along with associated fatalities. 
Recognizing the importance of road safety for the economic growth 
and development of Jordan, the JCM agreed to explore collaborations 
on improving road safety in areas such as strengthening data 
collection and analysis for improving road safety, traffic law 
enforcement, public communications and messaging to improve behavior 
in support of safer road use by drivers and pedestrians, developing 
trauma care systems and emergency medical care services, and roadway 
safety infrastructure improvements to enhance the safety of all road 
users. 
 
Joint Research 
-------------- 
 
The Joint Committee highlighted the continued progress of the USAID 
 
AMMAN 00002154  006 OF 006 
 
 
Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) program through which 
Jordanian researchers have been able to collaborate with hundreds of 
other Arab and Israeli researchers over the last few decades.  MERC 
is currently funding a record 25 active applied research grants for 
Jordanian scientists from government, academia, and civil society to 
collaborate on applied research with regional peers in the areas of 
water, environment, health, agriculture, and geology.  Future 
cooperation will consider creating a regional science and technology 
training center in Jordan through a National Institute for Standards 
and Technology/ Civilian Research and Development Foundation 
partnership with the HCST and exploring ways to encourage sabbatical 
and scholar exchange programs. 
 
The Joint Committee has established working groups on specific 
cooperation areas to consider how best to further joint activities 
and identify programs to recommend to the Joint Committee to achieve 
the goals and objectives agreed upon at this first meeting.  These 
working groups will made up of small numbers of Jordanian and 
American scientists and researchers who will work together remotely 
and report back to the Joint Committee at a later time. 
 
The next JCM is proposed to take place in the United States in 
¶2010. 
 
Signed on July 10, 2008, by 
 
     /s/                                  /s/ 
 
Dr. Anwar Battikhi    Reno L. Harnish 
Secretary-General, Higher Council Principal Deputy 
for Science and Technology   Assistant Secretary, U.S. Dept. of 
State 
 
 
¶9.  Post appreciates Department and interagency assistance in 
planning, attending, and holding a successful JCM. 
 
¶10.  This message was cleared by OES/STC. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.gov.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
RUBINSTEIN