The Higher Center for Research worked with USEK’s various academic units to implement an action plan for the 2023-2024 Academic Year, encompassing the following sections:

1. Definition of USEK’s research priorities:

• Health, Sciences, and Technologies
• Heritage and Memory
• Identity, Diversity, and Ethics
• Education and Theology
• Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Dynamic Data Analysis
• Advancement of Information and Communication Technologies
• Sustainable Development
• Architecture, Urban Planning, and Design
• Law, Policies, and Security
• Entrepreneurship
• Business Sustainability and Social Impact

2. Creation of 7 administrative units and a Research Council coordinating and supporting the University’s research work.

3. Alignment of the Master and PhD research work under the HCR researchers’ projects.

4. Creation of multidisciplinary research groups including researchers from various backgrounds and academic units:

• Analytics in Food, Environment, Health, and Heritage (AFEHH) – PI Dr. Nathalie Estephan
• The Levantine Center for the Built Heritage Studies – PI Dr. Hany Kahwagi-Janho
• Identités et développement, espaces de l’environnement (IDEES) – PI Prof. Mirna Mzawak
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Group (NDRG)– PI Prof. Walid Hleihel
• Laboratoire Sophia – PI Prof. Mariette Fayad
• Climate Resilience in Agriculture and Biodiversity (CRAB)– PI Prof. Nabil Nemer

5. Main planned objectives for the upcoming years:

• Fostering a strong interdisciplinary research and innovation culture.
• Encouraging translational/applied research based on the HCR’s ongoing fundamental research.