Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assert a mainstream role for focused R&D as a service activity for the economy and for society in a prosperous and harmonious Middle East.

Design/methodology/approach – Comparative review of science policy options in the context of today's Middle Eastern economies and societies, their competitiveness, needs, aspirations.

Findings – A clear case for a university-based R&D policy targeting the needs and potential of each nation so as to stimulate entrepreneurship, job creation and renewal of traditional sectors and small firms.

Practical implications – Priority allocation of resources to targeted R&D together with associated policy changes to achieve an open socio-economic climate conducive to innovation and birth of new activities.

Originality/value – To remind policymakers of recent international experience and thus help identify a Middle Eastern R&D focus also in the context of Islam's historic appreciation of the value of knowledge and learning.