Terms of Reference (TOR) for Technical Consultant For Innova...

1. Background

In the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), limited cooperation between the private sector and academia restricts the ability of academia to support private sector actors to develop solutions to business problems. 

Given the latent potential of Palestinian academia in supporting private sector growth, Tasdeer has conducted a light touch problem diagnosis. Tasdeer have identified two main reasons for the relative lack of coordination, primarily impacting the private sector demand for university services: 1) Lack of awareness and trust by the private sector in the technical and research capabilities of Palestinian universities to provide solutions that address private sector problems and needs; 2) Lack of a viable and sustainable business model through which universities can provide research and business solution services to the private sector.  

After extensive discussions with stakeholders, Tasdeer and Palestine Technopark have developed the Innovation Bridge Program, a new initiative aimed at fostering stronger collaboration between the academic and private sectors.

The program will be rolled out in the following phases:

Phase 1:

• Identify a range of production, managerial, marketing, technical, or operational challenges faced by Palestinian businesses.
• Select four key problem statements from four companies.

Phase 2:

• Develop Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the selected problem statements and distribute them to academics within local universities who are qualified and interested in addressing these challenges. The aim is for academics to propose solutions based on research and aligned with commercial and sustainable practices.
• Academics will submit proposals, and those selected will be responsible for delivering solutions to the designated challenges. The proposed solutions may involve designing a new solution or implementing it, depending on the specific problem.
• The selected academics will present their proposed solutions to a technical evaluation committee, which includes representatives from the relevant companies. This presentation will demonstrate how the proposed solution can effectively address the company's challenge. After receiving feedback from the committee and the company, the academic will submit a final solution.

In some cases, where applicable, Tasdeer may co-fund pilot projects by sharing the risk and providing financial support for developing a limited number of solutions across up to ten companies. 

The Innovation Bridge Program also includes a marketing campaign to increase awareness of the initiative among its target audience. Through these combined efforts, the program aims to showcase the capabilities of local universities and demonstrate the effectiveness of a Palestine Technopark-facilitated approach to connecting academia with the private sector. The objective is to deliver functional prototypes that address the following objectives provided by local companies within a timeframe of 3-4 months:

• Smart Beehive Management and Monitoring System for Al-Andalus Apiary

This project aims to develop an innovative management and monitoring system for beehives that enhances honey production efficiency. The solution should incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to monitor environmental conditions, hive health, and honey yield, providing real-time data to beekeepers for informed decision-making.

• Quality Control and Power Consumption Monitoring for Hijazi Chocolate Company

This initiative seeks to create a system for monitoring quality control processes and power consumption within the chocolate production line. The proposed solution should utilize IoT devices to track production metrics, ensure product quality, and optimize energy usage, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.

Technical Consultant 

Technopark and Tasdeer are seeking a Technical Consultant to support the implementation phase of innovative solutions developed through the Innovation Bridge Project. The consultant will play a vital role from the selection of research teams to the final delivery of prototypes to the partnering companies.

Objectives

• Establish Collaborative Relationships: Facilitate the development of partnerships between the partnering companies and selected research teams.
• Provide Technical Guidance: Offer ongoing support and expertise throughout the prototype development process.

• Enhance Awareness: Increase understanding and visibility of the Innovation Bridge Project among stakeholders, including academia and the private sector.
• Achieve Deliverables: Ensure the successful completion of a working proof of concept within 3-4 months, which should include:
• Comprehensive documentation of the design.

 Instructions for Submission of Offers:

 Each offeror must submit its proposal in two separate volumes: the Technical Volume and the Cost Volume. The Technical proposal shall be submitted in a separate email from the financial proposal. All offers and related documents must be submitted in emails with the name and address of the offeror (Terms of Reference (TOR) for Technical Consultant For Innovation Bridge Program) clearly marked about the email. The Technical Volume and the Cost Volume must be submitted separately to [email protected]. Emails must be clearly marked either “Technical Volume” or “Cost Volume”. If multiple emails must be submitted due to the size of a proposal, offerors must ensure that each email is clearly marked with the information described above.

If you have related experience and interested please CLICK HERE  to check the tender document