UW–Madison hosts Iraqi economic development delegation

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is one of two American universities to host a delegation of representatives selected by Iraq’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Innovation, Research, and Development (ICIRD) on universities and technology-based economic development.

The 12-member delegation, visiting Oct. 17–20, consists mainly of Iraqi university professors and government officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Minerals, Ministry of Planning, and Ministry of Higher Education.

The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, in partnership with ICIRD, is working to increase the use of academic research and development to create knowledge-based economies in Iraq.

Iraq has a long tradition of excellence in scientific research and technology. Iraq’s universities, which play a key role in scientific and technology development, could make a significant contribution at a time when Iraq is working to rebuild, diversify its economy, and ensure regional development.

In addition to UW–Madison, CLDP has engaged regional and international partners including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Georgia Institute of Technology Advanced Technology Development Center, and the World Bank.

The aim of this consultation is to provide theoretical and practical experiences about U.S. innovation. The delegates will be shown ways to coordinate university resources to help industry improve productivity and develop new technologies, and examples of how to commercialize and transfer technologies developed in university laboratories.

The delegates will use the insights gained from their experiences to help create university-based incubators for Iraqi new technology firms.

Charles Hoslet, managing director of the UW–Madison Office of Corporate Relations took a lead role in the campus visit.

“For UW–Madison to have been selected as a model institution for technology-based economic development is a mark of great achievement,” says Hoslet. “This sharing of knowledge, support, and collaboration is what the Wisconsin Idea is all about.”

According to U.S. and Iraqi officials, the objective is to train a critical mass of Iraqi university specialists on use of university resources to help local industry improve its productivity and develop new technologies.

Developing university-based incubators for new technology firms will help create an environment in which Iraqi academic scientists can use their talents for scientific advancement in Iraq, helping Iraq’s scientific industries to modernize and create employment opportunities for Iraqis.

In addition, the availability of licensing fees and royalties would eventually create a source of university funding for research and development.