REACHING FOR THE STARS
QNRF's mission is simple: to nurture a research culture that can build local human capacity and establish Qatar as a hub for scientific innovation and technological development.
BIOGRAPHY
Abdul Sattar Al-Taie is the executive director of QNRF. He earned his PhD, MSc, DIC, BSc, and ACGI in chemical engineering from Imperial College, London. Prior to his formative work at QNRF, Al-Taie held key positions in Iraq with the Ministry of Oil, Iraqi Atomic Commission, Ministry of Industry and Minerals, and the National Committee for Technology Transfer. Al-Taie also taught at a number of Iraqi universities and supervised a number of MSc and PhD students. He received numerous decorations and awards throughout his career, including the prestigious Science Medal of the Republic of Iraq.
Can you give us an overview of the institution's journey?
During the 10 years since our inception, QNRF has emerged as a catalyst for Qatar's social and economic advancement. All our operations and activities are driven by the mission to create and nurture a research culture, build local human capacity, and establish Qatar as a regional hub for scientific innovation and technological development. To achieve this, we have developed a diverse portfolio of research funding and capacity building programs, which have helped realize our vision of becoming an enabler for R&D and help Qatar develop a sustainable and diversified economy. Whether you are a student or a well-established researcher, QNRF will support you in pursuing your research, ranging across topics as diverse as astrophysics or the architectural history of Qatar.
How did you structure QNRF?
We have three primary suites of funding programs: research programs, capacity building and development programs, and special programs, all of which are strictly run on a competitive basis to ensure quality and equal opportunity. Under research programs, we have our flagship program, the National Priorities Research Program, and the Thematic and Grand Challenges Research Program (TGRP), which address the challenges faced by Qatar in collaboration with local and international partners. Through our capacity-building and development programs, we ensure that researchers at all levels and across all disciplines can rely on QNRF to learn more about research and build their skills and profile. Our programs offer support to students as early as primary school right up to postdoctoral. Moreover, we also have a dedicated program that helps young researchers establish their careers during the early stages. Our special programs aim to increase the technology-readiness levels (TRL) of locally produced research and encourage our researchers to gain international experience and exposure by attending international conferences and participating in research exchange opportunities inside and outside Qatar. These programs are developing the future of Qatar's research leadership and help our researchers keep up to date with the latest developments and innovations internationally.
What is the size of the participation in your funding programs?
QNRF has launched more than 100 calls under the banner of more than 18 funding programs. These calls received more than 14,000 proposals, with more than 3,500 receiving funding. Through these programs and initiatives, we have funded around 2,600 investigators, both in Qatar and abroad, to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and build networks with research centers worldwide. Our funding programs focus on quality rather than quantity. An example of our success includes the steady improvement in the international ranking of Qatari and Qatar-based institutions. Moreover, in terms of scholarly output, there has been an impressive upward trend, both in the quantity and quality of publications where the Mean Subject Citation Score (MSCS) for our publications has reached 1.40, surpassing the world average of 1.
How is your institution taking Qatar closer to the objectives dictated in the Qatar National Vision 2030?
Our primary goal is to help the country's economy transition from a hydrocarbon-dependent to a sustainable and diversified economy, and our programs reflect the aims set forth in the Qatar National Vision 2030 by focusing on three key elements: research, development, and innovation (RDI). Along with our partners and stakeholders, we are helping the ongoing research process to move across the full value chain of RDI to the stage where we will see the establishment of SME companies and industries. With the establishment of the Qatar Research Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council, the time is now ripe to improve the entire value chain and take the outcomes of the research compartment to higher TRLs, then to development and innovation compartments, culminating in the establishment of knowledge-based companies. QNRF is actively working with QRDI and various government and industry stakeholders to meet these objectives.
REACHING FOR THE STARS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority
Given its successful performance in the last few years, QFC is optimistic it will be able to capitalize on Qatar's ongoing efforts to create a world-class business environment and attract more global companies.
read articleInterview
Lolwah R M Al-Khater, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is focused on pushing forward Qatar's foreign policy, sharing information and perspectives that could be useful for regional security and advancing the Qatari narratives on many issues facing the world today.
read articleInterview
Richard O’Kennedy, Vice President, Research, Development, and Innovation, Qatar Foundation
The first country in the world to track its citizens' genomes, Qatar is on track to make one of modern science's biggest breakthroughs by personalizing medical treatment and precision care.
read articleInterview
Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister, Transport and Communications (MoTC)
With plans for a fully electric bus system and an impressive set of interconnected transportation options including metro, rail, and tram, the Ministry of Transport and Communication is shifting mobility into the next gear in Qatar.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al Thani, Governor, Qatar Central Bank (QCB)
Encouraging local manufacturing, initiating self-sufficiency in dairy and farm products, expanding into new air and sea routes, offering select visa-free entry, and enacting fiscal reforms are but several of the successful reforms undertaken since 2017.
read articleInterview
Sean Kelly, Project Director, Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme is no ordinary mall: with 650 hotel rooms, a 6,000-sqm cinema with 18 screens, six slides, three toboggan runs, and an ice river opening in September 2020, it is looking to slide into Qatar's tourism infrastructure in time for the World Cup.
read articleInterview
Mehmed Zingal, General Manager, Turkish Airlines - Qatar
With its 30th year celebration of its Miles&Smiles club launch in Qatar, Turkish Airlines is acknowledging its continued diligence to provide the best customer service, with targets to increase customer happiness through innovative technologies and increasing tourism to Qatar for the future.
read articleInterview
Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, President, Qatar University (QU)
Ranked in the top-500 universities by the Times Higher Education, Qatar University improves students' academic success by supporting students throughout their academic lifecycle, from the pre-university stage to beyond graduation.
read articleFocus
A lesson learned
The international attention set to fall on Qatar over the coming years is significant only to the extent that it generates advances in human capital required by Qatar's blueprint, National Vision 2020, where local know-how and innovation advance the nation and promote wellbeing.
read articleInterview
Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health & Managing Director,, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)
The health minister is committed to continuing the growth of Qatar's healthcare system, with plans for more than 20 new facilities specializing in pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health.
read article
