In this issue of "NEX-LABS; behind the scenes" we have interviewed Dr. Mohammed Aljafari, Project Manager at iPARK of Royal Scientific Society (RSS)

Tell us more about RSS and its main activities

The Royal Scientific Society (RSS) is the largest applied research institution, consultancy, and technical support service provider in Jordan and is a regional leader in the fields of science and technology (rss.jo). iPARK is the RSS operation dedicated to enabling and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Jordan (ipark.jo). iPARK enables and supports innovative ventures through effective programs, dedicated facilities, and expert advisory services.

iPARK supports entrepreneurs through matchmaking, advisory, legal support, and capacity building through multiple incubators across Jordan. iPARK also provides services to institutions and donors seeking to establish impactful entrepreneurship support and enablement programs.

For investors, innovators, and innovative institutions, iPARK provides expert commercialization and intellectual property services including patenting, matchmaking, governance, deal-structuring, brokerage, and technology audits through the Intellectual Property Commercialization Office (IPCO).

Graduated companies have grown to become market leaders, generate millions in revenues and investments and create thousands of value jobs.

What is your role in your organization?

I lead iPARK’s advisory arm, the Intellectual Property Commercialization Office, where we are focussed on creating societal good and economic reward for innovations. 

What is your role in the NEX-LABS project, what are you currently working on?

NEX-LABS tries to connect the different links in the innovation value chain, through various activities including capacity building, direct firm-level support, and the creation of living labs as critical ecosystem components that can bring together the actors needed to valorize innovation, and I am very glad that we are involved in all three types of activities. Through NEX-LABS, we are establishing Aqaba’s first living lab, and hope that this will be a tool to elevate the local ecosystem into a higher level of entrepreneurial activity. We are also heavily involved in many capacity building activities, and we are leading provision of support vouchers to startups and innovators.

What are your expectations in the NEX-LABS project? What do you think will have major impact for the Mediterranean community?

The regional networking has been valuable and has allowed many beneficiaries to build strategic and commercial partnerships across borders. I anticipate more of this in the home stretch of the project. 

And what do you do to relax, when you are not busy supporting innovation?

In my spare time, I enjoy carpentry, hiking, reading and playing sport.