 The establishment of the Islamic world Academy of Sciences (IAS) was initially proposed by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), now the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Co-operation (COMSTECH), and approved by the Fourth Islamic Summit held in Casablanca in 1984.Upon the invitation of Jordan, the Founding Conference of the Academy was held in Amman (Jordan) in October 1986, under the patronage of HRH Prince Al-Hassan, who accepted the patronage of the Academy together with HE the President of Pakistan.Operating from its Amman Secretariat, the Academy aims to continue the work it had started in 1986, assisting the decision-makers and scientists and technologists of the OIC-Member Countries and helping them achieve an advanced level of development for their countries.