El Hassan Science City: Fostering Innovation, Nurturing Progress

The extensive and diverse RSS campus was consolidated and inaugurated as El Hassan Science City (EHSC) on April 17th, 2007 by HM King Abdullah II, to celebrate the 60th birthday of HRH Prince Hassan bin Talal, Founder and Chairman of the RSS, with the objective of creating a knowledge and innovation hub to nurture and connect Jordanian entrepreneurship and skill. Founded on the principles of interdependence and multi-disciplinarity articulated by HRH Prince Hassan, EHSC, with the RSS at its core, is an evolving, internationally recognised research and technology organisation focused on developing solutions to critical issues of human survival and dignity that transcend the boundaries of politics and religion. EHSC is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation. It is rooted in the establishment of the RSS under the founding vision of HRH Prince Hassan and the direction of HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan.

EHSC aims to be the beacon of leadership for scientific innovation and advice in Jordan and the Middle East; to be a catalyst for socially-oriented economic progress for meaningful improvement in peoples’ lives and aspirations. The EHSC masterplan draws upon established human resource capabilities and networks, to facilitate collaborative research and socially empowering outputs under the overarching theme of ‘Science for Peace’. Under the direction of HRH Princess Sumaya, the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Science for Peace, the continued development of the EHSC masterplan will connect the science community of Jordan and the region with research, educational, policy and innovation communities around the world. Our independent campus offers the opportunity to develop the infrastructure and institutions that can help to promote peace and stability in the region through research, mentorship, education and a demonstration of best practices for evidence-based policy-making and development.

EHSC occupies a 95-acre site in Al Jubaiha Amman, adjacent to Jordan University, creating Jordan’s de facto national R&D corridor. EHSC encompasses: the RSS, Jordan’s largest applied research institution with the most advanced testing and QA facilities in the region, comprising almost 40 internationally accredited laboratories; Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), the national leader in third level science education; and the Queen Rania Centre for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) and iPARK, which constitute the campus’s growing Innovation Hub. These networked institutions offer researchers, students and entrepreneurs the facilities, support and mentoring they need to convey technological innovation from research to practical and commercial application – from education, early career, start-up and incubation to open-source outputs or intellectual property commercialisation.

EHSC has its physical base at the heart of a region that must innovate to survive. Jordan is a country with few natural resources and many demographic and environmental challenges. It has a fast-growing young population that recognises the value of education for personal and community growth. EHSC represents a response to the desire of Jordanians to build a knowledge-based, diverse economic and social future. Jordan’s physical and intellectual positioning matches that of EHSC: it is an open and welcoming society that has long acted as a gateway to the wider Middle East. It is a place that has absorbed the ideas and innovations of those who have passed through over many centuries. We believe that with ingenuity and application, we can respond to the challenges facing our human and natural environment in Jordan, the region and beyond. Investment in knowledge truly pays the highest returns.

 

Our Partners, Hosted Entities and Initiatives

The RSS is Jordan’s hub for collaboration and exchange, where science and technology underpin innovative research, education and entrepreneurship. Working with our partners, we strive to ensure that an increasing number of Jordanians have a stake in the unfolding story of our nation.

Princess Sumaya University for Technology

Established in 1991, the Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) is the vibrant academic component of the RSS campus. PSUT is a national, not-for-profit university, uniquely specialising i...

iPARK

The innovation hub of the RSS campus, iPARK was Jordan’s first business incubator. Managed by the RSS, iPARK enables, supports and accelerates the growth of start-up companies through its eff...

The Jordan Museum

Under the care and management of the RSS, the Jordan Museum presents the history and cultural heritage of Jordan at a series of beautifully designed galleries in downtown Amman. The Jordan Museum i...

IRADA

Funded by MoPIC and managed by the RSS, IRADA aims to improve the living standards of Jordanians, emphasising low-income communities and individuals in rural and remote parts of the Kingdom. IRADA ...

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Created by the United Nations and hosted at the RSS campus, the UN ESCWA Technology Centre was established to help achieve the economic and social goals set out in the Charter of the UN by promotin...