Royal Scientific Society

Royal Scientific Society
Name	Royal Scientific Society
Founded	1970
Founder	King Hussein of Jordan
Headquarters	Amman, Jordan
Region served	Jordan, Middle East
Leader title	President

Royal Scientific Society is an independent applied research and development institution based in Amman, Jordan, with a mandate to support industrial innovation, public health, and environmental management. It operates scientific laboratories, offers technical training, and provides testing and certification services that interface with regional bodies such as Arab League, United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, World Bank, and European Union. The Society has engaged with governments, universities, and private industry including Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ministries, Jordan University of Science and Technology, University of Jordan, King Abdullah II Fund for Development, and multinational firms like Schneider Electric and Siemens.

History

Founded under royal patronage during the reign of Hussein of Jordan, the Society grew amid regional development initiatives and technical capacity building linked to programs by the UNESCO and UNIDO. Early collaborations involved institutions such as Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and CSIRO while responding to crises like the 1973 oil crisis and the expansion of infrastructure projects funded by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Over successive decades the Society has worked alongside regional research centers including King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Qatar Foundation, American University of Beirut, and Weizmann Institute of Science, and has been involved in regulatory harmonization with agencies like the International Organization for Standardization and Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Mission and Structure

The Society’s mission aligns with national development strategies such as those promoted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and regional initiatives like the Greater Arab Free Trade Area and Gulf Cooperation Council technical standards programs. Its organizational structure includes executive leadership, advisory boards with representatives from institutions such as Jordan Chamber of Industry, and technical divisions that mirror disciplines at universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, and ETH Zurich. Policy engagement has involved partnerships with bodies like the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Jordan), Ministry of Environment (Jordan), Ministry of Health (Jordan), and international donors including USAID and DFID.

Research and Laboratories

The Society operates accredited laboratories providing services in chemistry, microbiology, materials, and environmental analysis, following standards from International Organization for Standardization and accreditation schemes like ISO/IEC 17025. Its research spans projects funded by entities such as the European Commission, National Science Foundation (United States), and regional foundations like the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. Laboratories collaborate with research groups at KAUST, Cairo University, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem on topics including water quality, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals. The Society has provided testing for companies including Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Unilever, and worked on standards influenced by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization.

Education and Training

The Society delivers vocational and professional training programs aligned with curricula from institutions such as Jordan University of Science and Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, and international partners like Cranfield University and Coventry University. Training covers laboratory quality systems, instrumentation, and certification preparation used by personnel from Royal Medical Services (Jordan), Jordan Armed Forces, Civil Defense Directorate (Jordan), and private sector firms including Aramex and Royal Jordanian Airlines. It has hosted workshops with international experts from Pasteur Institute, Karolinska Institutet, and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine on topics like biosafety and public health laboratory networks.

Publications and Outreach

The Society produces technical reports, standards guidance, and newsletters distributed to stakeholders such as Jordan River Foundation, CARE International, Oxfam, and national regulators like the Jordan Food and Drug Administration. Scientific outputs have been cited alongside publications from journals and publishers like Nature, Science, The Lancet, Environmental Science & Technology, and Journal of Hazardous Materials. Outreach includes participation in exhibitions such as GITEX, Arab Health, and regional conferences hosted by Royal Scientific Society partners including Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport and International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The Society maintains formal agreements and memoranda of understanding with universities and research institutes including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Johns Hopkins University, McGill University, National Institutes of Health, and agencies like UNICEF and International Committee of the Red Cross. It contributes to regional networks with organizations such as Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands, International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, and Middle East Desalination Research Center. Industry collaborations have included technology transfer and testing services for companies such as General Electric, ABB, and Honeywell.

Facilities and Campus

Located in Amman on campuses proximate to research universities and industrial zones, the Society’s facilities include biosafety laboratories, materials testing halls, and pilot-scale units for water treatment and renewable energy research. The campus infrastructure supports collaborations with regional centers like Zarqa University, Irbid National University, Aqaba Development Corporation, and accommodates delegations from international bodies such as European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and African Development Bank. The site hosts conferences and training events that draw participants from institutions including World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and university partners across the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

Category:Research institutes in Jordan