Industrial research

Factories and universities collaborate on research and development program

The Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) announced the conclusion of the first phase of the ‘Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements’ (LIRA) program for industrial research and development for the academic year 2011-2012.

Projects under the program will be implemented in cooperation with ten universities across the country throughout the academic year. The ALI said that 36 factories will cooperate with the universities in preparing and implementing the projects.

“The factories will sponsor the projects proposed by the research teams of the participating universities,” said Said Hamade, the General Coordinator of the LIRA program.

The LIRA program is funded and monitored by the Ministry of Industry, the ALI, and the National Council for Scientific Research.

Hamade said that the program aims at seeking industrial sponsorship for proposed university projects, and matching university research development with industrial needs.

The projects under the LIRA program are mainly in the fields of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, and industrial design.

During the second phase of the program, which should be concluded by the end of January 2012, the research teams will perform field trips to the factories.

The projects will participate in ‘LIRA 11’, the annual conference and competition hosted by the program. During the conference, which will be held during the second half of 2012, LIRA will offer cash prizes to the best three projects in each field.