The Center of Urban and Regional Planning for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad launched its Leadership and Innovation Week activities, attended by a select group of faculty members and postgraduate students. The Dean of the Center, Professor Dr. Kareem Hassan Alwan, inaugurated the week with his research paper titled “Sustainable Innovation in Scientific Research.” He explained that sustainable innovation is based on developing research ideas, methods, and technologies that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This includes focusing on the rational use of resources and minimizing negative impacts. Scientific innovation, he noted, is an approach aimed at producing new scientific knowledge and solutions that consider environmental, economic, and social sustainability, ensuring the long-term positive impact of research.
Dr. Alwan also addressed the importance of sustainable innovation in scientific research for solving complex problems in health, energy, the environment, and the economy. This approach enhances the quality of research, accelerates the achievement of results, and transforms knowledge into value through patents and startups. This, in turn, leads to international cooperation and the exchange of expertise within a supportive research environment that promotes social justice and improves the quality of life. Sustainable innovation areas such as renewable energy, health, sustainable agriculture and green technologies were discussed, in light of supporting high-risk urban projects with scientific returns, in addition to establishing technology incubators and technology transfer centers, while encouraging multidisciplinary research teams to integrate urban sustainability concepts into university curricula, as well as the importance of establishing research centers specializing in sustainability.
