With support from the Arab League, Bahrain plans to create a center for technology transfer and innovation. This center will assist universities and industries with the commercialization of new technologies; it will do so initially in Bahrain, and, later, throughout the Gulf.  In support of this initiative, on December 2-3, CLDP led a workshop on “Technology Transfer and University-Industry Partnerships.”  The workshop was organized in coordination with Bahrain’s SME Society, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (MOICT), Bahrain’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Tamkeen, a public authority tasked with supporting Bahrain’s private sector development. The participants in the workshop came from Academia and from industry.  The two U.S. experts, managers of technology transfer offices at their universities, discussed the role of technology innovation centers at universities as well as the importance of strengthening IP regimes to promote entrepreneurship. The program included a panel that discussed funding opportunities in Bahrain, including building venture capitalist and angel investor networks. After the workshop, CLDP met with local partners as well as with MOICT to discuss raising awareness on IP registration and development. By strengthening Bahrain’s IP regime, CLDP is helping to create a better businesses-enabling environment for U.S. companies.