Result of Service

The total number of pages of the report prepared should be at least 30 pages, in Arabic language;

A 2 to 4-page executive summary of the report; and
A PowerPoint presentation on the prepared report. The completed parts should be edited and saved in MS-Word (*.docx file) or an alternate compatible format. Note that PDF format will not be accepted. It should include a table of contents to be automatically updated followed by a list of all tables and figures. The various parts should be submitted in electronic form and sent to the email of the designated focal point. Attention is kindly drawn to the need to ensure that the final draft of the outputs be thoroughly reviewed prior to submission and to indicate the sources of tables and diagrams. References to reports and other substantive material should be clearly indicated within the text and noted at the end. It is also essential to send, with the completed output, photocopies or scans of at least the first page of books, reports and bulletins, used as reference material as well as copies of the pages quoted. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA. The consultant shall keep in mind that UN-ESCWA routinely checks all deliverables for plagiarism using readily available electronic tools. All previously published content, even if written by the selected consultant, must be clearly referenced where required within the text and end-noted at the end of the study. The study submitted by the consultant must not contain quoted, previously published text equaling more than 20 per cent of the total number of pages of the study. The consultant shall not publish or announce or reveal the content of the report, partly or entirely, on social media or any other public channel, without ESCWA and MTDE permission. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

16 weeks

Duties and Responsibilities

GENERAL SCOPE Technology transfer is a critical driver of economic growth in today’s global economy. Access to technology, and its effective integration into economic processes, significantly determines the competitive positioning of key stakeholders, including innovators, producers, researchers, government institutions, and financial actors. The establishment of a National Technology Transfer Office (NTTO) can play a pivotal role in integrating the capacities of innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and researchers who are developing technological solutions addressing sustainability challenges and strategic national priorities. An NTTO can provide a comprehensive range of services, including policy advisory support to government ministries, identification and valorisation of intellectual property (IP) generated through research, and close engagement with researchers to highlight the economic potential of their work. It can also support patent drafting and protection, technology valuation, and offer a suite of services related to commercialization and industrial consultancy. Furthermore, an NTTO should actively facilitate linkages between national capabilities and multinational corporations seeking local partnerships for joint development and production. Institutions coordinating NTTO activities are expected to mobilize their own resources for the establishment and initial operation of these units. Recently, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy (MTDE) in Palestine requested technical assistance from ESCWA to assess and develop a roadmap for establishing an NTTO in Palestine. In the context of strengthening the national innovation system (NIS)—and the technology transfer system in particular—this report aims to identify gaps in the existing legal and regulatory frameworks, government policies, and institutional capacities, including those within universities, that may impede the development of an effective technology transfer ecosystem. Key policy areas such as research and development (R&D) incentives, intellectual property protection, and innovation-related regulations have a direct impact on the performance of the NIS. Accordingly, this report provides a detailed assessment of these factors and proposes a practical roadmap for the establishment of an NTTO in Palestine. The report will also offer recommendations on addressing legislative and policy gaps to support the effective establishment and operation of the NTTO. In addition, it will outline the proposed structure, functions, and operational model of the NTTO, drawing on international best practices, regional experiences, stakeholder consultations, and previous ESCWA work. These Terms of Reference are developed to guide the preparation of the report titled: “Establishing an Effective System of Technology Transfer in Palestine: Current Status, Structure, Operations, and Roadmap.” The provision of this advisory service constitutes the core objective of these Terms of Reference. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant shall propose to the designated ESCWA focal point a detailed version of the report’s outline. The proposed draft version should include the following sections:

Existing legal and regulatory framework and policies related to innovation and technology transfer;
Review the relevant national and institutional existent legal framework and policies relevant to the process of innovation and technology transfer systems;
Review international and regional best practices in developing NTTOs to benchmark Palestine with the regional and international best practices.
Examining the situation in other countries in the Arab region that have already established NTTO, and get knowledge about their legal and regulatory system as well as their STI related policies and that support the establishment of NTTO;
Identification of gaps in laws, regulations and policies to allow for a more effective enabling environment for innovation and technology transfer. This would include brief analysis of the current situation with regard to innovation and technology transfer involvement in the economy of the country based on the national STI landscape mapping from previous report;
Suggestion of the needed office structure, its main functions and expected role of the relevant stakeholders (governance) based on best international and regional practices. This would include exploring planned policies with the representatives of governmental, nongovernmental, and other public interest groups to evaluate the present and planned legislative system which will affect the technology transfer network in the future and its strategies;
Finally, the consultant will suggest an actionable roadmap that includes the structure of the national technology transfer office (NTTO), its sustainability, and related liaison network by describing the main NTTO functions and activities, based on best international and regional practices, previous ESCWA outputs and taking into account national specificities. The report needs to clarify the relation of the NTTO role within the national technology transfer system in Palestine.
The consultant will present the report findings in a related national workshop, then update the report based on the collected comments and feedback. ESCWA promotes gender equality and integration of youth through its publications and therefore the consultant should pay attention, with the help of ESCWA staff, to gender considerations and youth dimension throughout the research work to ensure that the report gives equal attention to the needs of both men and women, as well as girls and boys. Writing should use gender-sensitive language.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master's degree in law, or technology field is required. A Ph.D. is an advantage. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least, 10 years of professional experience in research including 5 years in the field of technology / innovation / technology transfer is required. Previous experience in working with international organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, Fluency in Arabic and English is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

The Development of National Technology Transfer System in Palestine