Manama: TRENDS Research and Advisory is actively participating in the 7th 'Derasat' Forum, an event organized under the theme 'Arab Research Centres Consortium for Sustainability and Development.' The forum is being held by the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, and is scheduled for June 23-24, 2025, in Manama, Bahrain.
According to Emirates News Agency, the forum is designed to explore the integration of Arab intellectual efforts in tackling sustainability issues, aiming to provide a balanced perspective on the opportunities available to Arab nations for implementing their development plans. The event arrives at a time of rapid regional and global changes that present both challenges and new opportunities, requiring thorough analysis and strategic foresight. Think tanks are expected to play a key role in supporting policy-makers in these areas.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research and Advisory, emphasized that TRENDS' involvement in the 7th Derasat Forum reflects the ongoing strategic research partnership between the two institutions. This partnership has facilitated joint participation in numerous conferences, symposiums, panel discussions, and workshops, resulting in scientific recommendations and outputs that have enhanced scholarly research and supported knowledge dissemination.
Dr. Al-Ali highlighted that the forum will focus on the growing role of think tanks and research institutions in aiding policy-makers with data-driven insights based on comprehensive strategic evaluations. These insights are crucial for mapping the development landscape, identifying resources, and anticipating future challenges and aspirations.
Additionally, Dr. Al-Ali pointed out that the forum will emphasize the increasing responsibility of think tanks to present strategic visions for sustainable development. These are founded on sustained research partnerships that contribute to creating broad intellectual frameworks for sustainability goals and their implementation strategies. The forum will also discuss how think tanks can translate research into actionable policies, promote evidence-based planning, and use foresight and data analytics to craft adaptive and forward-looking development strategies.
Panel discussions at the forum will address the role of think tanks in supporting development governance and shaping public policy. Topics will include tools for assessing the impact of research outputs within the sustainability context, challenges related to funding and institutional support for think tanks, and their role in identifying local innovations and extending them into broader development models. The forum will also delve into balancing local realities with global development agendas.
Additional sessions will explore the utilization of big data in evidence-based planning, strategic foresight for enhancing policy readiness, integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses for informing development decisions, and building think tank capacity in artificial intelligence and predictive analytics.