The MED-QUAD project management team of the Al-Balqa Applied University discussed the communication mechanisms between the Irbid Electricity Company and Al-Balqa Applied University regarding training programs and career opportunities for college graduates and ways of cooperation in various fields that serve the educational and community process under the MED-QUAD project. Irbid Electricity Company will contribute to promoting the activities of the living labs at the local and European levels. Its staff can participate in the research and educational processes of the project. 

On April 9, 2022, a promotion meeting was held at the Greater Irbid Municipality about  MED-QUAD project, which the European Union funds under the ENI CBC Med Programme. The Al-Balqa Applied University (MED-QUAD partner from Jordan) project management team presented the project’s aim and expected results to the head of Greater Irbid Municipality.   

The meeting was attended by the head of the Irbid Electricity Company, MED-QUAD local technical expert, and associated partners representatives (municipal engineering, administrative and technical cadres, academy researchers). Dr. Eng. Nabil Al-Kofahi and the head of the Irbid Electricity Company, Eng. Bashar Al-Tamimi.   

The project management team of the Al-Balqa Applied University made clear to the Municipality’s representatives that universities need to learn how to better integrate a joint business/research vision under the Quadruple Helix Approach. That means collaborating with local government, businesses, and society to achieve sustainable and socio-economic development in the Mediterranean. The team also explained that the digital revolution demands the right skills and learning capacities for enterprises and universities to succeed jointly in the digital universe. Through the MED-QUAD’s training programs, which will be implemented for the universities, industries, local and national governments, and citizens, participants will have the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills with innovation through digitalization. The training aims to increase the number of specialized staff in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and prepare researchers/entrepreneurs for new markets and job opportunities. The SMEs will exploit new processes and products and learn new commercialization strategies. On the other hand, local and national governments will acquire skills and competencies to identify concrete innovation and suitable sustainability for funding the projects and proposals. The cities will provide new services; as a result, citizens will become innovation actors.  

During the meeting, the strategic framework of the ENI CBC Med program was highlighted, mainly the priority of facing socio-economic and environmental challenges, youth unemployment and social inequality in the Mediterranean region. The project team from Jordan emphasized that the MED-QUAD project aims to create, through cross-border cooperation, the conditions based on the Quadruple Helix approach - via the establishment of 2 Mediterranean Cross-border Living Labs to support technological transfer and commercialization of research results. They will exploit ICT technologies and Key Enabling Technologies for water use optimization, consumption, and reduction (Smart Water Use Applications - SWUAP) and cultural heritage promotion and preservation (Applied Research for Cultural Heritage Exploitation - ARCHEO). The ARCHEO living lab will offer to academia, society, and tourists innovative tools and interactive learning. It will concretely produce and use digital technologies for providing new services to cities and citizens.  Researchers and undergraduate students are looking forward to the launch of the ARCHEO Living Lab with the project's innovative capabilities.

At the end of the fruitful discussion, Dr. Eng. Nabil Al-Kofahi expressed his appreciation for the project's expected results and promised the visiting team full support and possible access to available resources for training and cooperation in the project work plan implementation.