Review of Egypt Science and Technology System: SWOT analysis

In this review, we conduct an exploratory study to assess Egypt Science and Technology System by the utilization of the Delphi survey combined with "Electronic Town Meeting" protocol following a preliminary evaluation of research and innovation performance at the national level. The application of this protocol was directed toward a realization of national science and technology SWOT analysis. Within this analytical framework, we examined different components of Egypt Science and Technology System in addition to competencies, bottlenecks and opportunities with the aim of providing a concrete assessment view and draw useful directions that could be rapidly utilized in different settings. We recommend using this combined protocol in the different strategic planning settings and actions.


Introduction
The differences in science and technology systems are prominent among developing countries and between developed and developing countries (O'Brien et al., 2013;Melas et al., 2017;Tvaronavičienė et al., 2017;Štiglic, 2017).
The recent dynamics following the Arab spring in the North African region implied further developments in the national system of science and technology. Several countries in this region exerted a lot of efforts in reviewing and revisiting current legislations, policies and strategies (Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 2000). An increased focus in the measures to optimize the research and innovation performance at the national level became a central component of national strategies (Bermejo Ruiz & De Pablos-Heredero, 2013a;Ghinolfi et al., 2014). In this respect, assessing the current system and structures became a paramount and prerequisite for any development plan (Ghinolfi et al., 2014). The analysis of strength, weakness, opportunities and threads (SWOT) is a commonly conducted analysis and defined as comprehensive method to study the system environment (Phadermrod, Crowder, & Wills, 2016). SWOT has been used extensively to assess industries and has been also used recently to assess national systems for science and technology (Bermejo Ruiz & De Pablos-Heredero, 2013b). Although the importance of such assessment, few attempts were done in the North African region. Several computing analytical techniques were used to engage stakeholders in the strategic planning process and the use of electronic town meeting (ETM) protocol has evolved quickly since it was firstly introduced in late 1990s when it was used in the USA for engaging citizens and different stakeholders in the policy planning process (Becker, 2001). It was demonstrated that electronic town meetings could be used widely in Science, Technology and Innovation planning process (George, Nunamaker Jr, & Valacich, 1992). In this respect, the aim of this analysis is to analyze the national science and technology system in Egypt and visualize the research and innovation landscape from a wide strategic angle.

Study framework
This assessment was done through two phases; the first phase includes the creation of theoretical-methodological corpus based on primary and secondary sources in the fields research and innovation performance. Based on the findings of the first phase, an exploratory research study was performed using Delphi technique combined with electronic town meeting protocol in constructing SWOT analysis. Benefiting from the grounded theory, an iterative process has been conducted in each round of surveys and the last inputs were captured while considering the majority consensus (Charmaz & Bryant, 2010). The theoretical-methodological corpus was used to define a set of indicators including "operational indicators", "performance indicators" and "functional indicators". The questionnaire design followed Oslo Manual of OECD and a short version has been produced to reflect the correlation of the identified indicators with policies, strategies and technological roadmaps (Organisation for Economic & Development, 2010). The SWOT analysis consisted of three phases 1. Selection of analytical parameters; 2. Data collection; and 3. Analysis and reporting. SWOT analytical parameters Based on the theoretical methodological corpus, we have used the confrontation matrix model in selecting the analytical parameters of the SWOT analysis (Kearns, 1992). These parameters include: -Human resources Capacity -Research infrastructure -Funding -Regulations and legislation system

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-Local innovation ecosystem -International prospective -Utilization of IPR and research investments

Data collection and analysis
The application of the Delphi method has been deployed in this assessment based in two questionnaires. Each parameter was analyzed with multiple questions through the distribution of semi-quantitative, and qualitative questionnaires. The articulation of the investigational points was addressing the main drivers, challenges, obstacles and opportunities facing the science and technology system in Egypt with specific emphasis on facilitating the articulation of relevant recommendations.
The generated responses were organised through "Electronic Town Meeting" (ETM) protocol (Becker, 2001). ETM is a community meeting that allows people to participate and interact via digital technology to influence decision-making processes . Participants were invited to fill the questionnaire and participate afterwards in a group discussion. Interaction and exchange of ideas between the different groups is facilitated by a real-time transcription system that allows sending the results of each group discussion to a theme coordinator who is responsible of delivering an instant report few minutes after the end of a round of discussion. Furthermore, electronic survey tools were used to integrate discussions so that participants can further validate the group answers. The discussions results are presented during the same day for an additional round of inputs and a majority consensus is realised through an electronic polling system. Participants were then invited to fill individually the second questionnaire following the same process. This state of the art methodology helped all participants to actively participate in a democratic way where all ideas are instantly captured, thus concrete results are produced.
Data collection was done through the organisation of two ETMs where each has 100 invited experts. To have a representative sample, experts were carefully selected to present all stakeholders where a quarter of all participants represented industry, and 40% represented equal participation from universities and research institutions, while Technology Transfer offices were represented by 15%, and each of local authorities, international agencies, media and scientific journalists, and civil societies was represented by 5%.
Questionnaires were answered according to participants' expertise, knowledge, and involvement in the innovation ecosystem activities. Qualitative answers were counted as positive (strength) or negative (weakness), semiquantitative answers received a score ranging from one (maximum weakness) to five (maximum strength). Questionnaires contained a total of 54 questions, 32 of which were enclosed in the internal factor analysis and 22 in the external factor analysis. Research community in Egypt is highly productive, as indicated by publications' count in the last 10 years.

Reporting of findings
Full time equivalent researchers don't constitute more than 45% of the total count of researchers Low number of qualified supporting staff in higher education establishments in addition to poor availability of skilled technicians Large number of qualified scholars in diaspora.
Active international mobility of young scholars.
Low number of effective mechanisms for empowering and engaging young scholars in Diversified mechanisms of public funding on R&D. National funding of Scientific research is highly fragmented. Allocation of more than 1,000,000 euros annually for scientific missions abroad.
Lack of effective evaluation and monitoring scheme of the different funding schemes and accordingly, the economic and technological impact. Gradual increase in public expenditure on research and development which shall reach 1% of GDP according to Egypt constitution.
Business expenditure in R&D is lower than expected average and insufficient. The lack of sufficient skills in writing competitive proposals or managing collaborative research and innovation projects. Regulations and legislation system National R&D funding increase to 1% of GDP according to the new national constitution. This is the first time this has been stipulated in an Egyptian Constitution.
The existence of national laws that prohibits research organizations to establish spin-off companies Boosting the capacities of the national system with new entities like the presidential council for scientific research in addition to activating the supreme council of research.
Lack of specific regulations in particular domains like clinical research and clinical trials. Significant rate of research plagiarism at the national level with insignificant preventive regulations. Innovation ecosystem Growing number of actors in the innovation ecosystem including business competitions, venture capitalists, incubators and specialized civil societies.

More focus at the national level on Information and communication Technologies and less emphasis on other technological areas.
A recently established system for monitoring and evaluation of research and innovation at the national level.
Lack of an effective national strategy for research and innovation. Existing technology roadmaps and strategies are not binding to the relevant actors. No sufficient incentives that could encourage the implementation of national strategies. Growing number of initiatives and programs that focus on raising scientific culture and popularization of sciences.
No significant coordination measure among public innovation support organisations.
New schemes for public private partnerships and technology alliances.
Primary focus at the institutional settings on research excellence based on the constricted and routine definition with regard to the production of knowledge rather than the use of knowledge. Economic return of Egypt intellectual property rights is weak. Existence of many public initiatives to transform research results into economic value.
Low number of patents' files and awarded patents. Lack of IP and patents' portfolio analysis at the national and institutional levels.  Research expertise distribution is indirectly proportional to the existence of good infrastructure Egypt membership in many international scientific and technological networks and unions.
Research activities not oriented to businesses' needs in addition to less utilization of existing capabilities.
Wealth of equipment distributed widely among research centers and universities.
Lack of financial tools that support the upgrading and acquisition of research and innovation equipment.

Funding
Existence of diversified public funding of basic and applied research Routine research administration and its effect on institutional competitiveness in the international funding programs. Increasing public R&D expenditure Market dominated by big enterprises with the significant presence of informal sector No sufficient program to leverage resources and engage SMEs in R&D activities in cooperation with academia.

Regulations and legislations
Existence of many initiatives and projects to revisit laws including research incentive law.
Excessive changes within the national innovation system. Increase utilization of IPR policies in universities and research centers.
The lack of enforcement to policies with unclear incentive scheme to encourage research Less competitiveness in the international markets New investments opportunities in renewable energy and transportation.
Weak coordination measures between investment and economic agencies with science and technology agencies. Political support in optimizing the local manufacturing and Egypt specialized industry like textiles, pharmaceutics and petrochemicals.

Conclusions
Egypt science and technology system was built few decades ago as static and linear system that doesn't allow quick adaptation to the current dynamics (Rezk et al., 2016;Radwan, 2015). Some authors have indicated that the non-linear and dynamic national systems could facilitate the technological development and allow better market uptake of research results, as well as boosting product innovation capabilities (Quitzow, 2015;Samara, Georgiadis, & Bakouros, 2012). One main recommendation concluded from this study emphasizes on the importance of promoting evidence based strategic planning at the level of research institutions in Egypt. Many previous studies underscored the importance of evaluation and monitoring system of science and technology as essential component of the development process (Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 2000;O'Brien et al., 2013). Having a continous and effective evaluation and monitoring mechanism embedded in the national system of scientce and The International Journal ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES ISSN 2345-0282 (online) http://jssidoi.org/jesi/ 2017 Volume 5 Number 2 (December) http://doi.org/10. 9770/jesi.2017.5.2(3) 210 technology is paramount for effective utlisation of existing capabilities and resources. The findings of the SWOT analysis of national systems would contribute in building the conceptual framework needed in further development of policies.