The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Leibniz Association Germany held yesterday, January 21, a virtual working session to explore fruitful cooperation opportunities between both entities in mutual areas of interest.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), presided over ICESCO’s team of heads of sectors, advisors, and experts, while Prof. Matthias Kleiner, President of the Leibniz Association, headed the Association’s team of directors of institutes and specialized research centers.

At the beginning of the session, both Dr. Al-Malik and Dr. Kleiner affirmed their interest in developing cooperation between ICESCO and the Leibniz Association, through practical programs with tangible results, in education, science, technology, culture and communication.

The two officials also welcomed bridging relations between the German Association and the ICESCO’s Member States, underscoring the past cooperation in organizing the “ICESCO Forum on Scientific Paper and Patent Writing,” which benefited over 10,000 students and researchers. The discussions also included cooperation in preparing for a large international conference as part of ICESCO’s activities to celebrate women in 2021.

ICESCO DG reaffirmed the Organization’s open-door policy that offers an Observer Status to non-Member States and international institutions, to promote cooperation in education, science, culture, communication, and environment protection. The policy is part of ICESCO’s recently renewed vision and strategy, elaborated Dr. AlMalik.

Prof. Matthias Beller, Vice President of Leibniz Association and Executive Director of Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT), mentioned the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICESCO and the institute. He proposed the cooperation between the two parties is a model for more Leibniz institutes to emulate.

During the working session, the directors from both sides highlighted the various institutes, centers, and departments in the Leibniz Association and ICESCO, and the prospects and proposals for direct cooperation in smart agriculture, climate change research, and heritage preservation. The discussions included the upcoming joint Ph.D. program between ICESCO and LIKAT and proposed an “ICESCO- Leibniz-DAAD” Scholarship.

At the close of the meeting, the participants agreed to draft a cooperation agreement between ICESCO and Leibniz Association.