Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Royal Highness Prince Hassan said that the brain drain that involves millions of skilled Arab youth has substantially restrained the success of development efforts in the Arab world, and emphasised the need for investment in "brain circulation" as it helps in building the strength of nations sharing knowledge.

Speaking during a ceremony to honour the winners of the El Hassan Bin Talal Award for Scientific Excellence on Saturday, he said, "Knowledge and knowledge development and brain circulation amongst us is the (key to) revolution, and that is the real capital of the Arab world." Prince Hassan, the President of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, said the relationship between sustainable planning and developmental planning should focus on "the human circle and the human beings' dignity and efficiency, or else investments will remain ceremonial and would not serve the common good." Prince Hassan noted that the Unified Arab Economic Report indicated that reducing unemployment is the biggest developmental challenge in the Arab countries, adding, "But I say to them all, how? Where is the initiative on the foundation of a regional bank for reconstruction and construction? Why (have we been) objecting until today to setting up of a global zakat bank? Is it because we need a transparent international accountant?" He said the moral revolution had long preceded the industrial revolution and that "we have to adopt the spirit of development and nation-building through real participation in all that is worth of participation, and that this is the perspective for the future." The ceremony, attended by HRH Princess Sarvath, President of the award committee, and HRH Princess Sumaya, coincides with the 20th anniversary of the award, which was launched in 1995 to encourage academic, scientific and technological activities. The award is granted annually to winners in one of three categories: institutions of general education, higher education, and vocational and technical education.

The 2015 first award went to the Hashemite University, while the Jordan German University and Yarmouk University won the second and third awards respectively.