INCONET-GCC

The first phase of the EU-funded Inconet-GCC project started in 2008 and lasted for approximately four years. Aiming at basic capacity-building, that phase featured mapping of common research interests, areas and issues in the GCC-countries and the European Union. Its results included a specification of priorities for research collaboration between the EU and the GCC countries.

The second phase, Inconet-GCC II, started in January 2014. It addressed specialised research and innovation agendas, notably innovation in health, including to combat diabetes, and a track on smart city development. IKED, as one of the European partners, focused primarily on the second part. On December 7-8, 2015, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman, the project team led by ITEMS in Paris and hosted by the Research Council of Oman, organised the major Conference, "Collaboration for Innovation; Linking GCC and EU". IKED played a major role in supporting the local organisation and moderated two sessions, on Main challenges in EU-GCC R&I cooperation: Ways to overcome the hurdles, and on Innovation in Energy/Smart Cities and Health in an international context.

Prior to the completion of the project early 2017, a final event was organised in Brussels, November 29, 2016. IKED coordinated the preparation of the Continuity Study, outlining strategies for future collaboration between the GCC and the European Union, as well as provided major contributions to the Whitepaper and Roadmap wrapping up the end results.

Download Whitepaper and Roadmap

Besides IKED, the following represent some of the other organisations that took part in the second part of Inconet-GCC in capacity of partners: