For Arab scientists, the social revolution of the past year could be the light at the end of a long tunnel of hopelessness. To transform this optimistic mood into action, we must consider what we need to do to integrate science and technology into post-revolution development models, and what we can realistically accomplish.

The issue of governance is high on the agenda: it should be rooted in democracy and merit from now on. Innovative national systems are needed that reject trade-offs between educational reform and investment in education, research and design.

It is important that new science and technology development models are adapted to the socioeconomic environment and resist the temptation to enter into blind competition with developed countries.

Because scientific expertise will be needed to inspire these plans, it is imperative that models include strategies to reverse the scientific diaspora and to prevent the brain drain from Arab countries.