TRENDS Research & Advisory has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area, the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) – Berlin, and the Humanity Without Borders organization. The agreements aim to enhance research and knowledge cooperation, launch joint projects, organize conferences, symposiums, dialogue sessions, and workshops, and facilitate the exchange of experts and expertise. They also include collaboration in publishing economic and foresight studies and academic bulletins.
The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of TRENDS’ participation in the 77th edition of the Frankfurt International Book Fair, as part of its vision to strengthen strategic partnerships with research and academic institutions worldwide. The agreements aim to exchange perspectives on current geopolitical and economic challenges and explore future opportunities for integration in research, consultancy, and development.
Effective Strategic Partnerships
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, stated that signing the three MoUs reflects TRENDS’ commitment to building effective strategic partnerships that support dialogue and promote the exchange of expertise and knowledge. He emphasized that the Guangzhou Institute, the BWA, and Humanity Without Borders are essential partners in TRENDS’ mission to foresee the future and analyze global economic and development transformations.
Dr. Al-Ali underscored the importance of this pivotal step in expanding TRENDS’ international relations network and reinforcing its role as a think tank dedicated to providing insights and analyses that contribute to advancing science and knowledge on regional and global levels. He added that the three MoUs aim to develop joint social and human studies programs and launch initiatives that raise awareness of humanitarian issues.
He further noted that TRENDS and its partners will work on developing research and field mechanisms to study economic and social phenomena related to migration and displacement, and analyze hate speech and extremism from a scholarly perspective. The cooperation will also include expanding economic and foresight studies that support sustainable development efforts.
Analyzing Global Challenges
Dr. Dongni HE, Executive Director of the Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area, praised the partnership with TRENDS, affirming that it will open new horizons for deepening mutual understanding of global challenges and developing knowledge-based, research-driven solutions. She explained that both institutions will collaborate to promote constructive intellectual dialogue and develop forward-looking perspectives and insights on current international events through joint workshops, symposiums, and periodic conferences.
Foreseeing Economic Future
Andreas Hube, Member and Representative of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) – Berlin, expressed his aspiration for a fruitful and constructive collaboration with TRENDS, commending the Center’s global level of research and its role in enhancing dialogue and understanding between East and West.
Hube noted that the MoU aims to establish a strategic partnership that supports joint studies, organizes events and conferences, and facilitates the exchange of publications and research. The collaboration will serve both parties’ efforts in keeping pace with global economic developments and anticipating the future of economic and trade policies.
Analyzing Social Phenomena
Mustafa Al-Ammar, President of Humanity Without Borders organization, described TRENDS as one of the most prominent think tanks in the region and the world. He noted that this agreement will enable the organization to access powerful and practical research tools to analyze economic and social phenomena and monitor intellectual indicators that could lead to violence in refugee settings.
Meanwhile, Philipp Schäfer, Vice President of Humanity Without Borders, highlighted the importance of academic and research dimensions in humanitarian work. He emphasized that challenges in the field cannot be solved solely by providing aid but instead require a deep scientific understanding of social and psychological contexts. Schäfer added that the partnership with TRENDS will strengthen the organization’s ability to respond more effectively.
Specialized Consultancy
Through its virtual office in Germany, TRENDS also held a meeting with Michael Scholl, CEO of the Union Foundation (Union Stiftung) in Germany. The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two institutions in areas of mutual interest, particularly in specialized infrastructure and urban planning consultancy. Both sides agreed to build strategic partnerships that support innovation and contribute to the advancement of scientific research.
