TRENDS launches virtual office in Paris to strengthen global knowledge bridges
PARIS (ALETIHAD)TRENDS Research & Advisory has launched its Virtual Office in Paris, a strategic step to enhance knowledge communication between think tanks regionally and internationally. This move is part of the centre's comprehensive research strategy, focusing on producing impactful knowledge, particularly in foresight studies.The opening of the virtual office in Paris comes as the world faces growing intellectual and political challenges, highlighting the need for research platforms to promote dialogue and mutual understanding among cultures.This move aligns with TRENDS' ambitious plan to establish a network of branch offices worldwide to support its headquarters in Abu Dhabi and cement its role as a knowledge institution that connects people and cultures.The new office relies on an advanced digital infrastructure that allows the organisation of virtual scientific events and symposiums, and the production of diverse knowledge content in Arabic and French, accessible across TRENDS' digital platforms.An elite group of researchers, international partners, and representatives of academic and intellectual institutions attended the virtual inauguration ceremony in France and the Arab world.It featured a presentation about the office's objectives and plan for the coming period.TRENDS' Paris office aims to achieve several goals, most notably enhancing academic connectivity by building effective partnerships between think tanks, universities, and research institutes in the Arab world and the Francophone sphere.It also aims to promote joint research projects and the exchange of expertise, focusing on knowledge cooperation with France as a pivotal hub of Francophone research.The office also seeks to keep abreast of and analyse knowledge production published in French, especially in digitisation, AI, geopolitical shifts, and social and environmental issues, and translate or simplify it for Arab readers.The office will also serve as an intellectual and cultural platform by organising conferences, joint publications in Arabic and French, and facilitating multilateral dialogue on global issues of common interest, such as climate change and digital security.Additionally, the office will encourage joint translation and publishing initiatives, promoting the translation of high-quality books and studies between Arabic and French to enhance the flow of knowledge and expand the reach of mutual intellectual and cultural influence.CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, said this pioneering initiative to launch a new office in Paris enriches the global scientific landscape and supports international research collaboration.He added that it reflects the centre's commitment to promoting scientific research, innovation, and knowledge as fundamental tools for sustainable development and human well-being.Dr. Al-Ali emphasised that the new virtual office aspires to link European scientific research communities and TRENDS' main headquarters in Abu Dhabi, aiming to create broader knowledge and scientific openness.Head of the Administrative and Media Affairs Sector at TRENDS, Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali, highlighted the significance of this launch. He said that opening the Paris office represents a quantum leap in the centre's efforts to build bridges of knowledge and understanding between cultures. He affirmed that the office will serve as a gateway to strengthen intellectual dialogue and knowledge exchange between the Arab world and the Francophone sphere.He added that TRENDS aims to offer insights into regional and global issues through this office and build strong relationships based on mutual respect and shared understanding.This expansion, he added, reflects TRENDS' commitment to being an influential Arab voice in the international intellectual arena.Director of TRENDS' Global Offices Department, Researcher Abdulaziz Al-Marzouqi, affirmed that the opening of the Paris office marks a significant milestone in TRENDS' journey to strengthen the knowledge bridge between the Arab world and the Francophone space and to open new horizons for intellectual dialogue and research cooperation, especially on issues related to combating the financing of extremist groups.Al-Marzouqi noted that this step is part of TRENDS' efforts to activate its presence in European discussions through direct engagement with academic elites and policymakers in France. This engagement helps promote mutual understanding and provides knowledge-based insights grounded in moderation and openness.Director of the TRENDS Virtual Office in Paris, Dr. Wael Saleh, described the launch as a significant milestone in strengthening TRENDS' and the Arab world's presence in the Francophone research landscape.'We aspire for this office to become a dynamic centre for strategic thinking and analysis and an active platform for knowledge exchange between academic and cultural elites in the Arab and French-speaking worlds,' he added.
He pointed out that the upcoming phase will focus on building research partnerships, launching joint initiatives to deepen mutual understanding, and producing rigorous studies that address significant issues facing today's societies, from geopolitical transformations to AI.
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