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Cairo UniversitySince 1908

EUPART third partner meeting 14th October 2009 (TEMPUS ETF JP 00241 2008 )

Galal Hassan Galal-EdeenBSc, BA(Arch), MSc(BSAD), MSc(AAS), PhD, MBCS CITP, CT

Department of Information Systems

Faculty of Computers & Information

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First reportSeveral meetings with top University executives.Suggested a unit for innovation support.Meetings & contacts with financial, admin & technical staff.Faculty umbrella.Green light for new organizational unit (Innovation Support Centre), but still some debate on exact form & procedure. A preliminary list of equipment.Ideas for space.

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Polimi (Centro METID) visit (WP5)

Infrastructure tested in staff offices, student labs.A presentation to VP for research & Computing faculty V-Dean.A virtual meeting held in the office of VP for Research & PG affairs with rector of Polimi.A long meeting with the technical staff who would supervise UNCHAIN lab.Infrastructure: Core switch (34 Mbps available upstream & downstream).

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Second reportInitial IPR policy & generic regulations (not TT).An IPR point to fall under the new structure.No formal structures for industrial liaison.No strong national policies to support innovation (link to entrepreneurship).Some suspicion on the part of industry.High use of academic research by government.Lack of strategic thinking on industry-focused research.

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Second report-2

Very low capacity for multidisciplinary research.Only current formalism is identifying one generic research area for each sector.Some exposure of students to industrial practice, but this is not systematic enough.Huge structural barriers impede industrial enrolment in courses (admission and progression rules, etc.)

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Problems

Negative attitudes towards multidisciplinary research.

No strong tradition of team-based & collaborative research.

No formal alumni or industry liaison functions.

Acute lack of space.

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Equipment (suggested)Computing: state min. spec, get the latest nearest time of use (subject to known lead time). Question: PC vs Mac platforms??Panasonic Full HD LCD TV (TX-L42S10)Panasonic Blu-ray Disc™ Recorder (DMR-BS750).Panasonic still digital camera (Lumix DMC-GH1).Panasonic HD Camcorder (a model with external microphone capability).Additional camcorder lighting.Sony HDR-CX520VE (latest model, July 2009)Data show (min 2200 ANSI Lumens, 800x500 res).Voice recording equipment (e.g. MP3 recorder)

Co-ordinate??

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Further ideas

Multi-media/ film production relevant to training and dissemination and training activities?A multimedia server?Requirements engineering tools and techniques (e.g. ethnography) to investigate detailed needs?Design usability issues.

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Related activitiesCo-draft a proposal for a “University Innovation Support Unit”.Further meetings with VP for Research.Meetings with the leader (Prof Wael Kortam) of the new CUIB (Cairo University International Branch).Recruited another member of academic staff to join the UNCHAIN team.Strengthening campaign for modular degree structure (ECTS). Galal to talk to all VDs.Appointed a research assistant.

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Figure 1: Proposed Organizational Structure (v4)

Cairo University Innovation Support and Patent Registeration Facilitation Office

Technical/ Admin Assistant Deputy Head

Executive Secretary

Innovation SupportSection

Patents SupportSection

Technology Transfer SupportSection

Web Developer/ DBA

Technical & Admin Support and TrainingSection

Marketing and Communications Section

Innovation & Patent Support OfficeHead of Office

Cairo University Innovation Support and Patent Registration Facilitation Office

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Achievements

Formal structure approved.First parcel of space found and approved.Housed within a very relevant entity (it is important where you physically locate this).Links with related entities in the universities (Research Park, IPR point, new CUIB).Preliminary approval for budget for basic infrastructure.Good momentum within the University.Dissemination to press started, but not widely.

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Issues

Current chair specs in the ToR suggest person(s) that would be expensive to employ: Cairo University does not have this kind of budget. Needs customization (but we like the full specs!).

Equipment selection & homogenizing.

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Development: space (outside)Development Research and Technological Planning Center (DRTPC)

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First Floor

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Development: space (inside) 1

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Development: space (inside) 2

44 m2

(9.20 m * 4.80 m)

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Development: space (near) 3

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Development: additionally av. space (upon request) 4

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Furniture

Philosophy: light, reconfigurable furniture.

Director’s desk & chair.

Meeting table + 6 chairs.

Shelves & bookcases.

Desks & chairs (secretary & RA).

Small waiting area (e.g. 2 chairs).

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The physical space

Space to generate certain circulation.

Increasing opportunities for co-awareness and chance encounter.

Consider space:

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Plan for Chair operationPreparation of space (furniture, lighting etc.) 2 months.Acquisition of Chair’s office equipment, including meeting room equipment. 2 months.Appointment of Chair and support team around beginning (January?) of 2010.Securing/ negotiation of additional space & equipment needed for training.Internal communication and dissemination.External communication and dissemination.Planning and setting procedure for training other members of faculty and industry members.

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SummaryVery good progress towards a truly integrated unit (at the level of structure and strategy).Space and the most critical infrastructure acquired, small equipment yet to be purchased.Issue with financing for the Chair.Suggest more co-ordination of equipment specs (similar training environments in MEDA countries to share training?).Suggest: more knowledge management to fine-tune training tools (multimedia, activities etc.)

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Web site: www.cu.edu.eg

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