Al-Mustaqbal University Strengthens Its Arab and International Research Presence at the First Conference of the Arab Network of Research Centers As part of its strategic commitment to expanding its academic and research networks at both the Arab and international levels, Al-Mustaqbal University actively participated in the first day of the First Conference of the Arab Network of Research Centers, held at the National Research Centre in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt. The University was represented by Prof. Dr. Mahdi Abadi Manea, Director of the Al-Mustaqbal Center for Artificial Intelligence Applications, alongside broad Arab participation involving representatives from approximately ten Arab countries and more than 76 research centers from across the Arab world. The conference represents an advanced Arab scientific platform that brings together leaders of research centers, experts, and representatives of international institutions concerned with scientific research, rankings, and innovation. Delegations from Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and other Arab countries participated in the event, reflecting the growing interest in building a more integrated Arab research ecosystem capable of strengthening its regional and international competitiveness. The first day featured a series of specialized scientific sessions, including a lecture entitled “Arab Ranking of Research Centers,” delivered by Prof. Dr. Yasser Refaat, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education for Planning, Governance, and Research Policies and Applications, together with Dr. Mohamed Al-Essaly, Vice President of Analytical Services and Data at Elsevier. The session addressed emerging trends in evaluating the performance of research institutions and centers and enhancing their visibility within scientific ranking and research assessment systems. Another lecture, entitled “Scientific Research and Innovation in Research Centers in the Arab Region,” was delivered by Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim, Senior Regional Director at Elsevier. The lecture examined transformations in the research and innovation landscape and highlighted the importance of utilizing databases and advanced research analytics to improve the quality of research outputs and support institutional decision-making. Artificial intelligence was also a central theme of the conference through the lecture “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Scientific Research and Innovation,” delivered by Dr. Ayman Aqeel, Director of Consulting for the Academic and Government Sector at Clarivate. The lecture explored the rapid transformations driven by artificial intelligence technologies in scientific research methodologies, knowledge management, and data analysis, as well as their role in accelerating the scientific innovation cycle. On the sidelines of the first day’s activities, the Al-Mustaqbal University delegation worked to strengthen channels of cooperation and communication with a number of Arab research leaders and representatives of specialized international institutions, particularly Elsevier and Clarivate, as well as research centers participating in the Arab Network. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, scientific publishing, research performance analysis, academic and research rankings, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and the development of joint research projects. Participation in this Arab scientific gathering represents an important step toward connecting the Al-Mustaqbal Center for Artificial Intelligence Applications with a broad network of Arab and international research institutions and centers. This supports the University’s vision of establishing sustainable research partnerships and positioning artificial intelligence as an effective tool for knowledge production, scientific research development, and innovation. Al-Mustaqbal University’s participation in the conference forms part of its vision to strengthen its scientific presence beyond the local sphere, engage with Arab and international research institutions, activate high-quality agreements and partnerships, and leverage them to develop joint research, scientific projects, training programs, and institutional cooperation capable of generating a tangible impact on international research rankings and indicators. The strong and diverse participation on the conference’s first day, bringing together dozens of research centers from across the Arab world alongside leading international institutions, highlights the growing importance of cross-border research networks, the integration of data and expertise, the application of artificial intelligence technologies, and the development of effective partnerships connecting universities and research centers with global knowledge institutions. This is the direction that Al-Mustaqbal University continues to establish and strengthen as part of its scientific strategy. Al-Mustaqbal University The First University in Iraq.