Dr. Nizar Haddad, the Director General of the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) invited emerging agricultural enterprises to join the Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubator at NARC. The incubator was launched in 2019, and has been developed in collaboration with the Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM) through a coalition led by IUCN supported by the French Agency for Development (Agence Française de Development, (AFD)).

Haddad added that the services offered by the incubator cover technical, administrative, and logistical levels, in addition to access to laboratories, audiovisual studios, training and meeting rooms, and infrastructure services, both at NARC headquarters and research stations spread across Jordan. This will enable entrepreneurs to turn from job seekers into job creators.

According to Haddad, the total number of projects applied for membership exceeded 150, among which 38 projects had passed the stages of competition and testing, whereas 3 projects completed their incubating period where creative ideas were turned into real agricultural projects that contributed to the income of their owners and employees, as well.

Haddad addressed the partnership agreements between participants and other companies to benefit from their ideas', and that a number of entrepreneurs received patents, local and international awards related to their areas of specialty. In addition, some startups are able to officially register their companies with related institutions, such as the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA).

In terms of innovation, Haddad confirmed that a number of enterprises have been patented, at the same time, NARC is seeking to implement these patents so that they become beneficial for the owners. On the other hand, NARC enables a number of these innovators to receive interest-free loans from the Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC) as part of modern technology introduction projects that enhance agricultural productivity.

Haddad also explained that in the near future, entrepreneurs will have more opportunities for capacity building and networking with local and international institutions, as well as opportunities for financial and in-kind support through NARC working projects that are being implemented through the Smart Desert Project and funded by AFD.