At a national moment where knowledge intersects with sovereignty, and development with dignity, His Highness Prince Hassan bin Talal sponsored the launch of scientific research priorities in Jordan, describing it as a civilizational project that restores consideration to the productive mind, and reaffirms that research is not marginal in the structure of the state, but an integral part of the national economy, and a lever for building a development model based on equality, mutual support, and justice in opportunities, and preserving human dignity as the ultimate goal of all modernization policies.
In his speech, His Highness reminded that the establishment of the Higher Council for Science and Technology was for the care of science and knowledge and the sponsorship of scientific research. He emphasized the necessity of having a national reference for knowledge, and a rational platform for evidence-based decision-making, not impression-based. He pointed out that global universities did not build their reputation through rote learning but through "genuine, solid research that illuminates the truth," citing reports prepared by the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford about the state of childhood in Gaza, as a model of how science creates ethical knowledge that reveals reality and protects humans.
From this meaning, His Highness stressed the need to unify the references for supporting scientific research and innovation under one national umbrella, so that efforts are not dispersed, and effects are not dissipated, and so that knowledge investment is directed towards serving the nation and the citizens, within the framework of three axes: human dignity, the reality of human rights, and the future... where to? As he confirmed, research is not an optional choice, but a substantive condition for crossing the delicate stage we are living through.
This project stems from a vision that sees knowledge as a sovereign energy, innovation as a path to liberation from dependence, and man as the core of the developmental process, not merely a tool within it. The research priorities here are not merely a list of topics, but a representation of a comprehensive national mobilization that reconnects the university with the community, links the laboratory to the market, and revitalizes the energies inherent within and beyond, to make knowledge a bridge between Jordanians wherever they are, and a driver for their contribution to the modern state project.
This path comes in response to a historical role that Jordan has carried through successive migrations that have shaped its social fabric, instilled in it values of openness, coexistence, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities. From this depth, the developmental dimension of the research priorities is formed as a tool for managing diversity, maximizing added value, and building a cooperative and balanced economy that distributes its fruits fairly, and gives everyone a chance to participate in production, not just consumption.
These priorities have been achieved through a participatory methodology based on a precise reading of developmental gaps, a conscious alignment between the capabilities of universities and the needs of vital sectors, and a detailed review of the experiences of countries that have made research a lever for growth. This methodology shifts us from the logic of funding papers to investing in knowledge with developmental returns, placing economic and social impact at the core of the decision, making research a tool for public policy, not an isolated academic activity. The project of national research priorities represents a precedent in the history of scientific planning in Jordan, as it is accomplished for the first time with this integrative methodology that directly links research to the eight economic modernization drivers, adding a driver of policy and security as a condition for sustainable development. It has also been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the government's implementation plan for the years 2026–2029, to become a unified national framework ensuring that knowledge transforms into a productive and sovereign force with concrete impact on the economy and society.
In this context, His Highness Prince reaffirmed that scientific research and development go hand in hand, and that providing precise information to investors, especially in the fields of rare minerals and resource sustainability, is crucial for building a competitive economy based on trust and knowledge. He quoted King Hussein, may God bless his soul, "The human is the most precious asset we have," confirming that the essence of modernization is not only in infrastructure but also in human dignity and the preservation of their right to a dignified life.
His Highness called for the creation of an index for multidimensional deprivation as a scientific tool for diagnosing the social and economic reality, and to define the concept of "Creativity" as the broadest concept of humanity, human rights, and the capacity to transform crises into solutions, through a realistic reading of problems based on solid evidence, not assumptions. He stressed that policies should be based on the environment, forecasting, sustainable resources, and sound planning to ensure the achievement of goals.
His Highness provided practical examples from the agricultural and healthcare sectors, where scientific research becomes a direct tool for improving production, water management, disease control, and enhancing food and drug security, confirming that wise decisions are only made through clear facts and sound governance capable of overcoming the delicate stage the region is going through.
At the heart of this transformation lies the reference and regulatory role carried out by the Higher Council for Science and Technology as the national umbrella sheltering the research and innovation system, the organized mind of its path, and capable of transforming vision into policies, linking universities and research centers with the public and private sectors, and dedicating funding based on impact.
In harmony with economic modernization, the role of scientific research is reformulated to be an executive arm for building a competitive economy based on innovation and added value and to make Jordan a regional destination for creative Middle Eastern projects, an open lab for solutions that combine technology and values, and between leadership and social responsibility.
And this path is not complete without addressing Jordanians abroad as they are a national asset of expertise and partnerships, calling them to participate in the innovation system, and transferring experiences, and building bridges with global markets and institutions.
Thus, the project of scientific research priorities is no longer a regulatory document, but a civilizational vision embodied in policies, translated into economy, and transformed into a society more capable of production and mutual support, in a nation that has always been among the first to call for human rights, carrying a universal message that sees in human dignity the basis of civilization, and in the productive mind the key to the future.
