2016 Lira prizes for youth industrial research

The Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements Program (LIRA) organized yesterday a ceremony to distribute awards for outstanding innovations undertaken by university students for the year 2016 under the patronage of Industry Minister, Dr. Hussein Haj Hassan. Also participating in the ceremony were the ministry’s director general, Dany Jad3on and the representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO, Cristiano Pasini. Some 28 research projects of a total cost of nearly LBP200 million were selected. Of the total amount 30% was funded by the Lira program. Following the selection, LIRA general coordinator, Saeed Hamadeh, gave a brief presentation of the program and the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming exhibition for industrial and scientific research achievements scheduled to be held next October. On the occasion, the second deputy governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Dr. Saad Andari, reiterated the Central Bank continuous support to the industrial sector and related technological and research initiatives. Similarly, the general director of the National Council for Scientific Research Dr. Mu3een Hamzah stated that the event reflected the extent of progress made so far by the LIRA program the important role it plays in linking scientific research and the production sectors. For his part, Minster Haj Hassan congratulated the winning students praising their distinctive competence, while expressing hope in a quick recovery of the national economy so that it can accommodate such great youth talents.  (An Nahar, As Safir, Al Diyar, March 23, 2016)