Work on an Arab Knowledge Index, which will measure knowledge levels in the Arab world for the first time in the region, got underway at the First Knowledge Conference in Dubai, UAE on December 7.

Organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), a leader in the dissemination of knowledge, the First Knowledge Conference has brought together knowledge influencers, experts and stakeholders under one roof, giving a new momentum to the knowledge movement in the region.

"The exchange of experiences and the introduction of best practices as well as recommendations and innovative solutions at the First Knowledge Conference will serve as a road map to the development of scientific and technological research in the region," said Jamal Bin Huwaireb, managing director of MBRF.

Notable speakers at the conference included Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, and Jimmy Wales, co-founder and promoter of the online non-profit encyclopaedia Wikipedia.

"As a platform that serves humanity through knowledge dissemination, the internet must reach all parts of the world,” said Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

“Today, majority of the people in the world still do not have access to the internet. While those who have access to the web are empowered, it is the responsibility of all to help extend the reach of the internet to everybody.”

The First Knowledge Conference also witnessed the launch of the Arab Knowledge Report 2014, a joint initiative of the MBRF and the Arab Bureau in the United Nations Development Programme, focusing on the integration of youth and the localization of knowledge in the Arab world.

The annual report, which is the third in its series, has highlighted this year the huge gap in the knowledge field in the region. At the same time, the report sheds light on some interesting findings such as the increasing female academic presence in the Arab countries, most notably in the UAE, Tunisia and Jordan.

The conference honoured Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Jimmy Wales with the first Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award for their efforts to build the largest platforms in knowledge dissemination. The award, worth $ 1 million, is the highest award of its kind and was split between the two winners.

The Arab Knowledge Index will provide accurate and practical information about the status of knowledge in the Arab communities to decision-makers, experts and researchers, to offer guidance in the formulation of development plans and policies. – TradeArabia News Service