Jordan: Planning the S&T Joint Commission Meeting

UNCLAS AMMAN 003880 SIPDIS SENSITIVE 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 NOAA/INTERNATIONAL EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/ROLF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPL SENV TBIO TPHY ETRD KTIA JO SUBJECT: Jordan: Planning the S&T Joint Commission Meeting REF: AMMAN 2606 (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Handle accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 9. ¶2. (U) Background and summary: The U.S.-Jordan S&T Agreement entered into force on June 12, 2007 (reftel). The Government of Jordan (GOJ) is keen to hold the first Joint Commission Meeting (JCM). Dr. Walid Al-Turk, Secretary General of the Higher Council of Science and Technology (HCST - the de facto Science Ministry), will serve as the Jordanian co-chair for the JCM. Al-Turk will travel to the U.S. in early November to meet the U.S. co-chair and other members of the scientific community to plan the JCM. He will discuss GOJ research priorities related to water, energy, environment and biotechnology, and have suggestions for JCM-related working groups as well as a joint U.S.-Jordan Research Fund. End background and summary. High Expectations on a No-Frills Budget -------------- ¶3. (U) Dr. Walid Al-Turk, Secretary General of the Higher Council of Science and Technology, is eager to initiate programs under the recently signed S&T Agreement, and has high expectations for a proposed November trip. His goals include: developing a personal rapport with the U.S. co-chair; outlining key GOJ priorities in the S&T arena; developing a framework for the JCM agenda and working groups; agreeing on tentative dates and location for the JCM; and, developing a draft plan for the JCM. ¶4. (U) HCST has developed a concept paper (shared with State OES/STC and NEA/RA which outlines the key GOJ R&D priorities: water, energy, environment, and biotechnology. HCST has suggested the following areas for cooperation under the S&T Agreement which could align with possible JCM working groups: -- Renewable Energy Applications Solar Energy Wind Energy Biogas Bio Fuel -- Water treatment and Desalination (including nanotechnology) -- Agriculture (low water consumption plants) -- Environmentally Sound Technologies (Clean Technologies) ¶5. (U) Additionally, IBM Almaden Research Center recently proposed a joint GOJ/IBM nanotechnology hub in Jordan, with an initial focus on using carbon nanotubes and self-assembled polymer membranes for desalination. Ten to twelve Jordanian scientists and post-doctoral students would spend a few years at IBM labs to further develop this technology before returning to Jordan to establish the hub. The initial focus of the program would be water desalination, but it could eventually be expanded for broader nanotechnology research/applications. HCST would like to advance this concept under the umbrella of the S&T agreement. ¶6. (SBU) Al-Turk is aware that no separate USG funding is available to support the S&T agreement, a fact he often laments. Nevertheless, he is supportive of the USG approach to create relevant working groups and collaborative networks, through which priority projects of mutual interest should "rise" and attract possible funding. In the HCST concept paper, he also proposes the creation of a Joint Research Fund (similar to the U.S.-Egypt S&T Fund) with matching contributions from U.S. and Jordan. HCST is able to contribute monies to such a fund. Al-Turk is likely to raise the concept of a Joint Research Fund with Washington interlocutors. Proposed Meetings -------------- ¶7. (U) Proposed meetings for Al-Turk's trip include the U.S. co-chair, senior Department management (G, OES, NEA),the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and OSTP. Al-Turk could also meet members of the interagency working group on nanotechnology. He is also keen to meet Representative Brian Baird (D-WA),Chairman of the House Research and Science Education Subcommittee, to follow up on their August meeting in Amman where they discussed regional Red Sea cooperative projects. (Mr. Walid Al Hadid at the Embassy of Jordan in Washington will be assisting Al-Turk in planning this trip). ¶8. (U) Optional add-ons to Al-Turk's trip could include stops in Colorado at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Wind Technology Center. Another add-on could be Almaden, California to visit IBM nanotechnology labs (para 5). Department Assistance -------------- ¶9. (U) Action Request: Post requests Department's assistance to: -- Confirm the November 6-7 dates for Al-Turk's meetings in Washington. -- Nominate a Department control officer for coordinating and supporting the meetings in Washington. -- Identify and communicate the appointment of the U.S. co-chair for the JCM. -- Develop a notional schedule for Al-Turk's November trip to Washington. -- Develop an initial draft agenda and suggested working groups for the JCM. ¶10. (U) Post appreciates Department and interagency assistance in efforts to plan and hold the JCM. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.gov.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ HALE #