No other city has suffered more from the devastation by the "Islamic State" and the destruction during its liberation than Mosul and the adjacent ancient Nineveh, both owing a rich cultural heritage. Many buildings such as the medieval Nuri Mosque and the Assyrian palaces and gates were destroyed and the museum was looted. Since the restoration of civil order, many of these buildings have been archaeologically investigated and partially rebuilt. This was achieved through a collaboration between state institutions, international and local universities, and local NGOs, in which numerous residents of Mosul were involved.

Nevertheless, there is still much to be done, not only to repair the damage, but also to carry out the reconstruction in accordance with UNESCO guidelines. In addition, the importance of cultural heritage needs to be communicated to both the local population and visitors from outside to raise awareness of this heritage and thus better protect it from renewed attacks, as well as to reactivate tourism in order to generate economic recovery.

There is no lack of commitment on the part of the city's residents, but rather of know-how regarding modern reconstruction and presentation mechanisms. Decades of war, embargo and civil war have led to a massive brain drain in Iraq, which is why this know-how is not available to the extent required.

This is where the proposed project comes in: together with the al-Noor University in Mosul and the NGO lamassu, both of which are leading the reconstruction programmes, a team from the Bern University would like to run a training programme in Mosul to impart precisely this expertise.

The University of Bern has begun archaeological research in the ancient site of Zabalam in the south of the country and is also conducting an SNSF Sinergia project on the Hydrography of Mesopotamia. During an excursion to Mosul, it came into contact with representatives of the two mentioned institutions, who are expected to make a return visit to Bern on 29 September. A cooperation agreement was reached and the applicant has been nominated as a visiting professor at al-Noor University.

The funds will be used to send a conservator, an archaeologist and a specialist in knowledge transfer to Mosul to conduct a one-week course. The funds are earmarked for travel, accommodation and meal expenses. Al-Noor University will cover the costs of the conference facilities and materials, while the University of Bern will cover the speakers' salaries.

Objects from the past bear traces which can reveal information about their origin and history. Cracks, fissures, and manufacturing techniques expose details about an object's creation and deterioration, while chemical composition can reveal original materials and burial conditions. Archaeologists, historians, and cultural heritage researchers interpret this information within historical context, creating knowledge that benefits both academia and society by preserving historical conscience for future generations. Conservation specialists and museum archives play a crucial role in preserving and displaying these cultural remnants in public spaces. The MENA region hosts some of the world's largest antiquities collections. SESAME, the only synchrotron light source in the MENA region, provides unique non-destructive analytical opportunities for artifact research. Synchrotron X-ray methods allow researchers to characterize fragile specimens with high resolution and specificity without damage. SESAME's beamlines are used daily by scientists and conservators for applications in archaeology and cultural heritage. A key challenge in communicating interdisciplinary scientific results is that information is typically designed for expert audiences, and researchers often collaborate primarily within their own fields. In 2024, Yarmouk University and SESAME collaborated to investigate three unique Iron Age terracotta figurines from the As Salt Museum of Archaeology in Jordan. Using X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure, and X-ray phase-contrast Computed Tomography, our team illuminated aspects of Iron Age terracotta production. These unprecedented results contribute to historical understanding while demonstrating successful collaboration between archaeologists, museum curators, and physicists. This project aims to communicate the history of Iron Age decorated terracotta figurines and the synergy between past civilization research and contemporary applied physics. The target audience includes archaeology and cultural heritage students and scientists at Jordanian Universities, as well as Jordanian citizens and museum visitors. Outreach will be achieved through a series of seminars, and digital materials including 3D renderings, video content, and 3D printed replicas of the artifacts. This work fosters collaboration between historians, paleontologists, and STEM specialists while inspiring future generations in these disciplines.

Mental health disorders are a major public health concern in both Europe and North Africa. In Morocco, around 50% of the population has experienced at least one recurrent minor disorder, a prevalence comparable to other countries (Asouab et al., 2007). However, the management of patients and the social perception of mental illness differ considerably between countries. A study conducted at Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech among 100 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression showed that 90% concealed their condition, mainly due to fear of negative reactions from relatives (Ait Idar et al., 2022). Only half of them reported receiving adequate family support, while 68% mentioned a deterioration in family and social relationships and 12% experienced humiliation after disclosure.

According to the 2023–2024 report by Morocco’s Court of Accounts, there is still a lack of communication and public awareness about psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric care resources remain unevenly distributed, with over 50% of the country’s capacity concentrated in the Casablanca-Settat and Marrakech-Safi regions. The report highlights the need to strengthen professional training, develop community awareness and anti-stigma programs, and expand access to psychiatric services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Moroccan media outlets (Vitavox, Le Matin) reported these findings to inform the general public.

In this context, we plan to organize two afternoon sessions in French at the University of Tetouan (April 16–17, 2026) focused on communication and awareness. The sessions will target students, healthcare providers, and the wider community of the Tetouan region. Through twelve lectures, various aspects of psychiatry will be explored from biological and clinical perspectives. Moroccan and European experts from different professional backgrounds (researchers, academics, physician-scientists, and clinicians) will present their work, followed by roundtable discussions to address audience questions.

A collaborative meeting will also bring together the invited speakers and the teaching team of the University of Tetouan to develop shared research perspectives and strengthen partnerships between Morocco and Europe. This event will take place on the university premises, with public information disseminated through posters, medical centers, and online communication.

This project brings together veterinary science, public health, and plant-based therapies to share the results of a Swiss-Moroccan collaboration on improving animal health. It focuses on caseous lymphadenitis (CL), a chronic bacterial disease affecting small ruminants that causes major economic losses in Morocco and the wider MENA region.

The project will disseminate its findings through an open-access scientific article aimed at researchers and policymakers, the creation of brochures and digital materials in French and Arabic to inform veterinarians, farmers, and other stakeholders about plant-based alternatives to antibiotics, and a one-day hybrid workshop in Rabat with experts from academia, veterinary practice, and farmer associations. By emphasizing sustainable livestock farming, antimicrobial resistance, and a One Health approach, the project is relevant to both scientific audiences and the wider community.

This project intends to enhance people's understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and increase opportunities for those who want to create a business in Jordan by connecting youth and early-stage innovators with the knowledge of creating something using an AI approach and providing them with educational materials, tools, resources, and an opportunity to meet other similar individuals.

Through the “AI Entrepreneurship Roadshow”, the initiative will give Jordan's youth and early-stage innovators an opportunity to not only connect with an audience interested in starting their own businesses but to be educated and given the supporting tools needed to create a successful venture.

This initiative is the result of a collaborative partnership between the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and Yarmouk University (Jordan), and will leverage their respective expertise in entrepreneurial education, innovation ecosystem development and digital transformation/AI technologies to provide an effective educational medium for promoting collaboration among Swiss companies and MENA companies.

This initiative will produce communications tools and content that are accessible to non-academic audiences, such as startups, SMEs, university students and the general population.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are fundamentally transforming digital finance. From algorithmic trading systems and robo-advisors to credit scoring models and anti-money laundering tools, AI-powered technologies are reshaping how financial services are delivered, regulated, and consumed. Large language models are now being deployed for sentiment analysis, regulatory document processing, and customer service automation. Meanwhile, fintech companies are leveraging deep learning for real-time fraud detection, personalized financial products, and alternative credit assessment. This three-day academic workshop brings together researchers and practitioners from Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates to advance responsible AI and machine learning adoption across the digital finance ecosystem.

The workshop, hosted at American University of Sharjah (April 21-23, 2026), represents a collaboration between the University of Applied Sciences Grisons (FHGR) in Switzerland and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the UAE. Building on a seven-year research partnership with significant findings on blockchain analytics, cryptocurrency markets, and AI-driven fraud detection, the event will gather 80-100 participants from academia, banks, and fintech companies to share knowledge and develop new collaborative projects.

The program addresses three key themes. Day one focuses on research frontiers in AI and machine learning for financial markets, featuring presentations on large language models, predictive analytics, and algorithmic decision-making. Day two bridges research and practice through fintech case studies from leading financial institutions and hands-on workshops on explainable AI for regulatory compliance. Day three builds research capacity through doctoral training on advanced machine learning techniques for finance and establishes working groups on emerging topics including generative AI in banking, decentralized finance, risk modeling, and financial inclusion through technology.

By connecting Switzerland's expertise in financial technology and quantitative finance with the UAE's rapidly evolving fintech ecosystem and innovation-friendly regulatory environment, this initiative contributes to developing global best practices for AI governance in digital financial services.