October, 2009 Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, Executive Director, QNRF

1. Qatar National Research Fund October, 2009 Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, Executive Director, QNRF

2. Outline • Overview • Qatar Foundation (QF) • Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS) • Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) • QNRF Programs & Activities • National Priorities Research Program • Undergraduate Research Experience Program • Biannual National Research Survey • Conferences and Workshops Sponsorship Program • Special Research Program

3. QATAR FOUNDATION for Education, Science and Community Development An independent, chartered, nonprofit organization committed to the development of Qatar and its people. Founded in 1995 by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Chairperson: HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned.

4. Qatar Foundation Overview QF Mission and Vision: “Qatar Foundation is guided by the principle that a nation’s true wealth is its people. Our goal is to develop that human potential: • by creating a network of centers committed to delivering first-rate education, supporting science and research and promoting community development. • by partnering with world-class educational and research institutions. • by building a unique Education City, featuring state-of- the-art technology and facilities, that is a hub for the creating, sharing and finding practical uses of knowledge”.

5. Qatar Foundation Overview QF Innovation, Science, Technology and Research Entities. QF supports a network of centers and partnerships with elite institutions: • Education City. • Research Centers of Excellence. • The Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). • The Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). • International Partners.

6. Qatar Science Technology Park Qatar Foundation Convention Centre Sidra Medical and Research Centre Faculty of Islamic Studies Northwestern University Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar Georgetown University in Qatar • Schools • Qatar Academy • Bridge program • The Learning Centre Carnegie Mellon Qatar Texas A&M University at Qatar Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar

7. Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS) Overview of QNRS: QF is entrusted with the implementation of the Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS) whose main drivers are: • Support for existing industry. • Diversification. • International Recognition. • Environmental Protection. • Improving Health. • Education. • Quality of Life.

8. 2015 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 QF Research - Long Term Vision Phase 1: Pursuit of Cutting Edge Science • Enrich people skills and research capabilities through the pursuit of cutting edge science in Qatar: • Specific programs initiated in year 1 • (New programs) • Support other ongoing programs and initiatives Building Qatar’s strength from Day 1 progressing in parallel Phase 2: Position Qatar as Major Regional Contributor of Science Advance the national ability to become a major contributor of science and technology at regional stage and position among the world leaders in patent filings Phase 3: Become A Magnet for Innovative R&D Worldwide Achieve significant advancement in niche areas of research and ensure this step forward becomes the growth sectors of tomorrow

9. QF Model for Research Integration and Coordination Qatar Business & Research Organizations Qatar Governmental Institutions Multi-disciplinary Research Programs Research Innovation Portfolio Qatar Institute for Biomedical Reserch Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar Institute for Computational Sciences & Data Mining Qatar Institute for Energy & Environment Shafallah Commercialisation Corporate Research

10. Qatar National Research Fund

11. Qatar National Research Fund Vision: The Qatar Foundation envisions research as a catalyst for expanding and diversifying the country's economy; enhancing the education of its citizens and the training of its workforce; and fostering improvements in the health, well-being, environment, and security of its own people and those of the region. Mission: QNRF will lead the strategic development of a national research enterprise within Qatar. It is required to work in close cooperation with government ministries and departments that have a legitimate interest in the research enterprise of Qatar.

12. Qatar National Research Fund QNRF Goals: • Build national human potential by using research funding and other activities to accelerate development of opportunities for education and training in basic and applied research in Qatar. • Fund research that focuses on related national needs. • Raise Qatar’s international profile in research and expand non-QNRF funding.

13. QNRF Programs & Activities

14. QNRF Programs & Activities Current: • National Priorities Research Program. • Undergraduate Research Experience Program. • Biannual National Research Survey. • Conferences and Workshops Sponsorship Program. • Arab Expatriate Scientists - Fast Track Launch Program. Tasked: • Theme Projects Program. • Distinguished Fellowships. • Facilitate the application of research results. • Graduate Research Experience Program. • Secondary Schools Research Program. • Young Scientists Research Program.

15. Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)

16. Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) The QNRF seeks to stimulate a broad array of undergraduate research opportunities in Education City and Qatar University through faculty- and other researcher-led projects involving one or more students inside Qatar. The (UREP) promotes “Learning by Doing” mentorship activities as effective methods for undergraduate education. Students gain experience with team-based research collaboration with faculty, graduate students, and other undergraduates or research staff.

17. Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) • QNRF conducts two UREP cycles per year, six UREP cycles have been implemented since the fall of 2006; the seventh cycle is due in October 2009. • So far the following has been achieved: • 6 cycles were launched. • 563 proposals were submitted. • 299 proposals were awarded. • Around 60 publications so far. • 781 students awarded and mentored by 325 faculty members. • US$6,36 million total funded.

18. Biannual National Research Survey(BNRS)

19. Biannual National Research Survey The BNRS is intended to be the national repository of research activities, including data collection efforts, findings, and scientific and technical publications in Qatar. So far the following has been achieved: • QNRF launched the BNRS search engine on Thursday, 5th Feb, 2009. • 4600 records encompassing Qatari research from 1970-2007. • New records over the period 2007 – 2009 is expected to be incorporated in the BNRS database late this year.

20. Conferences and Workshops Sponsorship Program(CWSP)

21. Conferences and Workshops Sponsorship Program • (CWSP) • Goals and Guidelines: • To create a framework that fosters collaboration among researchers in Qatar with the global research communities. • To encourage all academic institutions and relevant stakeholders in Qatar to engage in hosting scientific and academic conferences. • To attract national and international academic institutions and relevant stakeholders to host their periodic conferences in Qatar. • To give exposure to the importance of research for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Qatar.

22. Conferences and Workshops Sponsorship Program(CWSP) Achievements • QNRF sponsored 4 major international conferences through the CWSP over the last year: • Logic Programming Artificial Inelegance and Reasoning (LPAR 08). • Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD 09). • 11th International Conference on Relational Methods in Computer Science/6th Applications of Kleene Algebra (RelMiCS11). • 17th International Conference on Telecommunications.

23. QNRF Support Activities Achievements • Launched the 1st QNRF Newsletter. • As a testament of its continuing efforts to introduction research culture in Qatar, 23 Research Offices were created in academic and non-academic Qatari institutions to support research and researchers. • Launched QNRF’s in-house revamped website (more than 1.7M hits to date).

24. QNRF Support Activities Achievements • Enhanced (in-house) the online submission solution with 3 separate channels for: • Applicants (around 7000). • Research Offices (23). • Peer Reviewers (around 3500).

25. National Priorities Research Program (NPRP)

26. National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) Overview of NPRP: • QNRF’s largest grant funding activity. • Seeking to address key national, regional, and global needs through research. • Pursuing research opportunities for which Qatar has a comparative advantage. • QNRF seeks to support a broad variety of projects in basic and applied research in: • Natural sciences. • Engineering and Technology. • Medical and Health sciences. • Agricultural sciences. • Social sciences. • Humanities.

27. National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) Benefits of NPRP: • Service to Qatar. • Collaboration and sustainability. • Merit-based research awards. • Active publication, promotion and outreach. • Furthering research culture in Qatar. • Expand knowledge in Qatar.

28. NPRP Proposal • Project Design and Program Eligibility: • QNRF accepts individual or collaborative, small or large proposals spanning between one and three years. • QNRF encourages: • Multi-year, multi-disciplinary, and multi-institutional projects. • Collaborative projects partnering researchers and academia from different campuses or organizations outside academia. • Partnerships between institutions in Qatar and outside Qatar. • Awards will be made to institutions and organizations only.

29. NPRP Proposal Conditions that must be met: • At least 50% of the research must be conducted in Qatar by the research team in Qatar, as measured in person-days spent on the project. • At least 65% of the proposed project funds must be administered by an institution in Qatar and expended within Qatar. • The Co-LPI must reside in Qatar (but need not be a Qatari citizen).

30. NPRP Flowchart Submit LOI RO Vet Submit Proposal Lead PI Registration RO Registration Statistical Analysis Funding Option Notifying Ineligible Proposals QNRF screening Evaluation Received Reviewers Receiving Complementary Documents For Funded Projects FMA Signing and Disbursement Of Funds QF EBOD Approval Award Notification (RO/LPI) Steering Committee

31. NPRP 3rd Cycle Timeline

32. Payment Schedule • 100% for equipment and any associated material cost, plus up to 50% of the remaining annual budget. • 50% upon receipt and acceptance of the 1st interim progress report. • Year 1 • 100% for equipment and any associated material cost, plus up to 50% of the remaining annual budget. • 50% upon receipt and acceptance of the 1st interim progress report. • 100% for equipment and any associated material cost, plus up to 50% of the remaining annual budget. • 30% upon receipt and acceptance of the interim progress report. • 20% upon receipt and acceptance of the final report. • Year 2 • 100% for equipment and any associated material cost, plus up to 50% of the remaining annual budget upon acceptance of the Annual Progress Report. • 30% upon receipt and acceptance of the 2nd interim progress report • 20% upon receipt and acceptance of the final progress report • 100% for equipment and any associated material cost, plus up to 50% of the remaining annual budget upon acceptance of the 1st Annual Progress Report. • 50% upon receipt and acceptance of the 2nd interim progress report • 100% for equipment and any associated material cost, plus up to 50% of the remaining annual budget upon acceptance of the 2nd Annual Progress Report. • 30% upon receipt and acceptance of the 3rd interim progress report • 20% upon receipt and acceptance of the final progress report

33. NPRP Achievements • QNRF Launched three NPRP cycles since April 2007. • QNRF received over 700 proposals through its in-house developed submission solution. • Each proposal was sent to 5 internationally renowned PRs. • Strict PRs screening criteria were applied (at least assistant professor with min. 20 publications, has no conflict of interest, etc). • Funding was increased from US$25 to US$ 86 million per cycle. • Size of grants per year was increased from $250k to $350k per project.

34. 1st & 2nd NPRP Cycles General Statistics

35. Distribution of Proposals per Disciplines

36. Results of the NPRP 2nd cycle

37. QNRF website ( www.qnrf.org ) To sign in/sign up: (www.qnrfsubmission.info/prog/)

39. Qatar Development

41. Doha 2025

42. Thank You for Your AttentionDr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie Executive Director, QNRF

43. Qatar Science Technology Park • 600,000-square-meter campus. • State-of-the-art facilities. • Free trade zone. • Business incubator QF. • Promotes economic diversity, job • creation and commercial investment • in Qatar. • - Anchor tenants include Microsoft, • Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, GE.

44. Sidra Medical and Research Centre • All-digital 348-bed academic medical center. • Specialty care for women and children plus clinical/surgical services for all patients. • - World-class biomedical research center. • Teaching facility for Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar. • Working in concert with Hamad Medical Corporation. • - 8 billion US dollar endowment. • - Opening 2012.

45. Weill Cornell Medical College - 2 year Premedical Program. - 4 year M.D. Program.

46. Carnegie Mellon University • - Business Administration. • Computer Science. • Information Systems.

47. Texas A&M University in Qatar - Chemical Engineering. - Electrical Engineering. - Mechanical Engineering. - Petroleum Engineering.

48. Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts in Qatar - Graphic Design. - Interior Design. - Fashion Design and Merchandising.

49. Qatar National Convention Centre - Opening in 2011 and setting a new benchmark in global venue design. - QNCC will feature 40,000 sqm of exhibition space over 9 halls with the capacity for a conference or gala dinner for 10,000 guests, a 4,000-seat conference hall, 2,300-seat lyric style theatre, three tiered auditoria, an additional 52 meeting rooms, all adaptable to accommodate the full range of events.