Rawad Sweidan | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Editorial Board Member

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Mr. Rawad Sweidan | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Editorial Board Member

Researcher | National Agricultural Research Center | Jordan

Rawad Sweidan is a researcher at the Livestock Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center, with a focus on ruminant nutrition and livestock production, particularly in sheep and camel breeds. His work has garnered 57 citations to date, reflecting his growing influence in animal science and agricultural research, with an h-index of 4 and i10-index of 2. Sweidan’s research spans from applied animal husbandry practices to plant-based interventions in livestock health. Notably, he investigated the effects of castration on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Awassi lambs fed high-concentrate diets, a study cited 32 times, which provides critical insights for optimizing meat production efficiency in small ruminants. More recently, he has explored the use of willow (Salix spp.) extracts as a natural means to inhibit coccidia sporulation in goats, reflecting his interest in sustainable and herbal approaches to animal health. His work on willow silage for fattening Awassi lambs further illustrates his commitment to integrating locally available plant resources into livestock feeding strategies. Sweidan has also contributed to understanding the genetic uniqueness of the Alia camel in Jordan, emphasizing the importance of conserving and utilizing indigenous breeds for food security. Beyond livestock nutrition, he has participated in broader regional projects, such as the Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries initiative, evaluating the adoption and impacts of agricultural interventions across Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia. Additionally, he has co-authored studies on herbal medicine as natural alternatives for avian coccidiosis control, highlighting his multidisciplinary approach bridging animal nutrition, health, and sustainable agricultural practices. Collectively, Sweidan’s work demonstrates a dedication to improving livestock productivity, promoting animal health through natural and cost-effective strategies, and supporting food security initiatives in the Arab region, making him a notable contributor to both practical and scientific advancements in ruminant nutrition and agricultural sustainability.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  1. Haddad, S. G., Husein, M. Q., Sweidan, R. W. (2006). Effects of castration on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Awassi lambs fed high concentrate diet. Small Ruminant Research, 65(1-2), 149-153.

  2. Muklada, H., Davidovich-Rikanati, R., Wilkerson, D. G., Klein, J. D., Sweidan, R., et al. (2020). Genotypic diversity in willow (Salix spp.) is associated with chemical and morphological polymorphism, suggesting human-assisted dissemination in the Eastern Mediterranean. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 91, 104081.

  3. Haj-Zaroubi, M., Mattar, N., Awabdeh, S., Sweidan, R., Markovics, A., Klein, J. D., et al. (2024). Willow (Salix acmophylla Boiss.) leaf and branch extracts inhibit in vitro sporulation of coccidia (Eimeria spp.) from goats. Agriculture, 14(5), 648.

  4. Awabdeh, S., Sweidan, R., Landau, S. Y. (2022). Growth performance and carcass characteristics of fattening Awassi lambs fed willow silage. Small Ruminant Research, 215, 106758.

  5. Sweidan, R. W., Hayajneh, F. M., Awabdeh, S. A., Al-Nsour, S. S. (2025). Herbal medicine: A natural alternative treatment of avian coccidiosis. International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences, 14(5), 811-817.

Rawad Sweidan’s research advances sustainable livestock nutrition and animal health by integrating plant-based solutions and optimizing indigenous breeds, directly supporting food security and agricultural innovation in the Arab region. His work bridges science and practice, promoting eco-friendly strategies that benefit society, industry, and global livestock management.

Manuel Gimenez | Innovation | Best Innovator Award

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Dr. Manuel Gimenez | Innovation | Best Innovator Award 

Chief Innovation Strategy Officer | Ayesa | Spain

Dr. Manuel Giménez Medina is eminently suitable for the Best Innovator Award based on the exceptional breadth, depth, and real-world impact of his career at the intersection of technology, research, and industry-led innovation. With over two decades of sustained leadership in innovation strategy, technology transfer, and applied research, he has consistently transformed advanced scientific knowledge into scalable digital solutions with measurable economic and social value. As Chief Innovation Strategy Officer at Ayesa and former Innovation Director at Emergya Group, he has led multinational innovation ecosystems, managed high-impact R&D portfolios exceeding tens of millions of euros, and coordinated complex international projects across artificial intelligence, smart cities, cybersecurity, digital agriculture, blockchain, and industrial IoT. His academic excellence is evidenced by a PhD in Software Engineering and Technology with cum laude distinction, Q1 publications in Expert Systems with Applications, and recognized scientific awards for best research articles, demonstrating both thought leadership and methodological rigor. What strongly enhances his candidacy is his rare ability to bridge academia, industry, and public administration through open innovation frameworks, enabling effective knowledge transfer, commercialization, and capacity building. As coordinator and principal investigator of multiple national and European projects such as AgrarIA, D-Rural, AI4Dev, and TIMBERTRACK, he has delivered innovations that directly support sustainability, digital transformation, and regional development. His advisory roles in strategic innovation committees and his trusteeship at a major ICT research foundation further validate his influence on innovation policy and ecosystem development. In education, mentoring, and doctoral supervision, he contributes to nurturing the next generation of innovators. Overall, his combination of scientific excellence, industrial impact, leadership credibility, funding success, and sustained societal contribution clearly positions him as a highly deserving candidate for the Best Innovator Award.

Profiles: Google Scholar | LinkedIn | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

Giménez Medina, M., González Enríquez, J., & Domínguez Mayo, F. J. (2023). The innovation challenge in Spain: A Delphi study. Expert Systems with Applications, 230, 120611.

Giménez Medina, M., González Enríquez, J., & Domínguez Mayo, F. J. (2023). A systematic review of capability and maturity innovation assessment models: Opportunities and challenges. Expert Systems with Applications, 213, 118968.

González Enríquez, J., Giménez Medina, M., & Domínguez Mayo, F. J. (2023). A systematic review of capability and maturity innovation assessment models: SMS. In Proceedings of the XXVII Jornadas de Ingeniería y Bases de Datos (JISBD), Spain.

Giménez Medina, M., González Enríquez, J., & Domínguez Mayo, F. J. (2020). Towards an agile innovation capability maturity framework to enhance investments on ICT organizations. In Proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE), Spain.

 

Dr. Manuel Giménez Medina’s work drives global innovation by transforming advanced research in artificial intelligence and digital systems into high-impact, real-world solutions for smart cities, cybersecurity, and sustainable agriculture. By bridging academia, industry, and public institutions, his leadership strengthens technology transfer, accelerates digital transformation, and delivers measurable social and economic value at regional, national, and international levels.