National Council for Scientific Research Leads Lebanese Presence at World Research Council Regional Meeting in Kuwait
The National Council for Scientific Research participated in a regional meeting in Kuwait, presenting Lebanon's experience in preserving scientific research during crises, with an agreement to host the next meeting in Beirut in 2027.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
In line with its role in strengthening Lebanon’s scientific presence at both the regional and international levels, the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L) participated as a partner in hosting and organizing the Regional Meeting of the Middle East and North Africa region for the Global Research Council (GRC), which took place in Kuwait from November 2 to 4. The event was hosted by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).
The Council’s participation went beyond mere attendance; it made a substantive scientific and institutional contribution to the meeting’s proceedings. It co-hosted one of the sessions and presented Lebanon’s experience to representatives of research councils and scientific and funding institutions in the region, through a presentation delivered by the National Council for Scientific Research.
The presentation highlighted the Council’s efforts to maintain the continuity of scientific research and enhance national research capacities amid the successive crises Lebanon has faced since 2019, starting with the economic and financial collapse, followed by the coronavirus pandemic and the Beirut port explosion, and extending to the repercussions of the war. It also underscored the pivotal role played by the Council in safeguarding the research ecosystem, supporting researchers and universities, preserving international scientific partnerships, and developing national capacities that place scientific research at the service of society and the state, particularly in areas such as environmental monitoring, damage and loss assessment, and risk management and early warning.
The Council’s participation reaffirmed that basic scientific research and curiosity-driven science are not luxuries during times of crisis, but rather fundamental pillars for building the knowledge, expertise, and capacities that countries need to respond to challenges and recover from them. Research institutions that invest in science before crises occur are best positioned to provide evidence and solutions when they are most needed.
This participation holds particular significance given the agreement that the National Council for Scientific Research will host the next regional meeting of the Global Research Council in Beirut in 2027, succeeding Kuwait. This choice reflects confidence in the Council’s role and its ability to lead regional scientific dialogue, as well as in Lebanon’s standing and scientific and research potential despite the difficult circumstances it is enduring.
Hosting Beirut for this event constitutes a national and scientific responsibility that extends beyond organizing an international meeting; it is an opportunity for the National Council for Scientific Research to reaffirm that Lebanon remains an active partner in shaping the future of scientific research in the region, and that its scientific institutions are capable of taking the initiative, providing leadership, and attracting international partnerships.
