Abstract
Purpose of science and technology (ST) in Arab countries is far from nourishing socio-economic development. The activities of ST in Arab countries were directed for prestige and propaganda rather than into socio-economic development. Arab countries have not produced a critical mass of full time equivalent researchers. The weaknesses of the national ST systems in the Arab region have drastically reduced the benefits derived from the investments made in economic infrastructure. The Arab countries need to adopt strategies to improve their ST capabilities in ways that promote the technological development necessary for sustained economic growth. Arab countries should not blindly imitate other countries, but should identify and leverage their own unique resources. All universities and research institutes in the region need to be re-envisioned. Research institute and university activities need to be market-driven. Initiatives targeting the networking between research and industry need to be developed. Monitoring the state of ST becomes a major challenge for the Arab countries in their endeavours for developing knowledge based economy. Each Arab country needs to establish and run its own ST national observatory. A proper ethics monitoring system needs to be developed. Developing and activating ethical code and strengthening research ethics committees will improve monitoring ethical issues which may arise in the course of work by the academic staff in the universities and research institutes. However, an ethics monitoring system needs to be kept rigorously outside the control of ST institutes.