The two-day eighth meeting of the Comsats Co-ordinating Council is being held on March 14, in Cairo, Egypt. The Comsats Co-ordinating Council comprises the heads or representatives of the 14 Comsats International Centres of Excellence that make up its network. As per the charter of the network, the co-ordinating council meets annually to initiate discussions and make decisions that would help in mobilising the network for achieving its objectives.
This year's meeting is unique in several ways. The valuable council member, the National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt, is hosting it. The NRC is the largest multidisciplinary R&D Centre in Egypt, devoted to basic and applied research within the major fields of interest.
Other features of the meeting are that it has been sequenced in a way so that the first meeting of the Comsats Technical Advisory Committee would immediately follow on March 16. The Technical Advisory Committee that consists of internationally renowned experts, approved by the council, is responsible to technically assess and review the quality and relevance of the programmes and submit recommendations.
It may also offer advice on how to meet identified challenges, increase linkage with the international scientific community and enhance north-south and south-south co-operation in the fields of science and technology.
All the 14 members are likely to attend the Comsats Co-ordinating Council meeting, which will ensure effective deliberation on the activities for 2005-06.