The ASREN Bi-Annual Meeting 2026 was held in Rabat, Morocco, from 22 to 24 July 2026, bringing together ASREN members, NREN representatives, project partners, and regional stakeholders for three days of meetings, discussions, and capacity-building activities focused on strengthening research and education networks and regional collaboration.
The meeting opened on 22 July with the seventh EUMEDplus project meeting, hosted by CNRST. Project partners reviewed progress and discussed key areas including NREN relevance, the Twinning Programme, gender policy and impact, cybersecurity, and long-term business planning. The discussions provided an opportunity to assess ongoing activities and consider priorities for strengthening the role, sustainability, and impact of NRENs across the region.
A central exercise invited participants to consider what would happen if their NREN — or ASREN as the regional network — no longer existed, prompting reflection on the services, collaborations, research activities, communities, and opportunities that depend on these networks. The discussion generated valuable insights that will contribute to ongoing work to strengthen NREN visibility, engagement, and communication.
On 23 July, participants took part in a dedicated Leadership and Communications Workshop, led by Dr. Sandra Molloy and Yousif Asfour (AUB/TechCARE). The workshop focused on strengthening leadership and communication skills and exploring how NRENs and regional networks can better communicate their value, engage stakeholders, and build stronger communities around research and education infrastructure.
The final day, 24 July, brought together ASREN shareholders and member organizations for discussions on strategic priorities, governance, and future regional collaboration. Discussions highlighted the importance of research and education network infrastructure and ASREN's role in supporting regional cooperation, including collaboration between scientific facilities and NRENs and continued capacity-building across the region.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to engage with LYREN, the newly established Libyan Research and Education Network, and discuss its integration into upcoming regional connectivity and digital transformation initiatives.
Overall, the three-day meeting strengthened dialogue among ASREN's members and partners and provided an opportunity to connect project implementation, organizational priorities, capacity building, and future regional cooperation.
