Smart specialization across key sectors in Jordan needs the ongoing support of key enablers and key
vertical tech areas, which help build capacity, expertise and excellence to drive the digital economy. Jordan
already has existing products, services and actors within the enabling sectors predicted to grow
exponentially in terms of market in the MENA region by 2025, 33 i.e., digital content & gaming,
ecommerce and professional services (integration and support services), which need to be encouraged to
invest in becoming regional leaders and of relevance to global digital value chains. Given particularly the
ongoing trend of mobile device uptake in the whole MENA region, and the young population, Jordan
should strive to lead demand-driven innovation across the region. Similarly, key technologies of relevance
across the sectors and the enabling sectors are the vertical tech areas, i.e., IOT, cloud computing,
hardware and artificial intelligence. Here forecasts are predicting growth in the relevant tech markets
and disruptive new business models that may emerge from these technologies. This needs to be
complemented with significant capacity to lead the data revolution and be able to offer secure and reliable
digital products and services.
The above sectors are examples of international trends of sectors that have grown as a result of the
opportunities of digitization. These sectors have been related to the Jordan differentiators and
opportunities. However, the sectors should be seen as input to a wider dialogue and may change in the
course of this strategy.
LEADING THE MAKER REVOLUTION
The maker revolution, where entrepreneurs use open source design, 3D printing etc. to bring
manufacturing, architectural design etc. and technology together 34 , brings opportunities for small
companies that can address markets much more easily, at a lower cost. The maker market allows small
companies to prototype ideas, get funding, and then access manufacturing to scale up 35 . Moreover,
crowdfunding platforms, where a large number of supporters fund projects and ideas, typically online, have
further boosted the development, as makers can now approach supporters directly and receive funding
for their work.
Jordan is a young nation with much idea generating and support around the start-up culture. In the MENA
region, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt lead the seed investment culture for start-ups. Incubators such as Oasis
500, iPark, the incubator Darat Al Reyadah which was recently launched by int@j, the Amman Chamber
of Commerce and MoICT, Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) by ZAIN, Business Innovation Growth (BIG)
by Orange, the Tank by UMNIAH and others are drivers behind this. Young entrepreneurs sees Jordan as
a good place to build on new ideas36.
33
For example, gaming is expected to nearly triple in size in the coming years — from $1.6 billion in 2014 to $4.4 billion in 2022. Demand for
local content will spur rapid MENA media growth. See for example http://www.arabiangazette.com/demand-local-content-spur-mena-mediagrowth-20141119/
34 The Maker Revolution is a term first coined in Chris Anderson’s 2012 book “Makers: the new industrial revolution”. See also http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/09/wireds-chris-andersontodays-maker-movement-is-the-new-industrial-revolution-tctv/
35 http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/09/wireds-chris-anderson-todays-maker-movement-is-the-new-industrial-revolution-tctv/
36 http://globalriskinsights.com/2015/03/middle-east-sees-rise-of-start-up-incubators/
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