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Building Research Capacity in the UAE The Role of the National Research Foundation (NRF)

Building Research Capacity in the UAE The Role of the National Research Foundation (NRF). Presentation to Information and Communication Technology Research Forum (ICTRF2009) By Dr. Kenneth Wilson Director National Research Foundation, UAE Sunday, April 5, 2009. Objectives.

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Building Research Capacity in the UAE The Role of the National Research Foundation (NRF)

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  1. Building Research Capacity in the UAE The Role of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Presentation to Information and Communication Technology Research Forum (ICTRF2009) By Dr. Kenneth Wilson Director National Research Foundation, UAE Sunday, April 5, 2009

  2. Objectives To enable the participants to better understand: • UAE research performance. • The Knowledge Economy. • The National Innovation System (NIS). • National Research Foundation (NRF)

  3. UAE Research Performance • The United Arab Emirates is the 66th ranked producer of scientific publications in the world in 2006, but 87th in publication impact as measured by the h-index. • UAE experienced steady growth in output through 2005, but its share of global and regional output is now in decline. UAE has not matched the exceptional growth experienced in Iran or Egypt. Source: SRI International

  4. MENA Scientific Publications Source: SRI International Slide 4

  5. UAE Research Publications by Institution Source: SRI International

  6. What is the Knowledge Economy? • “A knowledge-driven economy is one in which the generation and exploitation of knowledge play the predominant part in the creation of wealth” (UK Department of Trade & Industry, 1998). • Economic prosperity depends upon knowledge creation and learning.

  7. What is Knowledge Economy? (Cont.) • A company’s intellectual capital is embodied in its employee’s knowledge, brainpower and processes. The ability to continuously improve these processes is a source of competitive advantage. ICTs are the enablers of knowledge creation tools for releasing the creative potential and knowledge embodied in people.

  8. Measuring the Knowledge Economy The World Bank Knowledge Assessment Methodology identifies four pillars of the Knowledge Economy:

  9. Knowledge and Innovation Rank for GCC Countries among world countries Knowledge Rank among 140 countries Innovation’s Rank among 134 countries Source: The Knowledge Assessment Methodology (KAM) 2008 rankings for 140 countries, The World Bank Institute Source: The Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey 2007, 2008

  10. Education Rank for GCC Countries among 134 countries Source: The Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey 2007, 2008

  11. What is Innovation? • Innovation is the conversion of knowledge and ideas into a benefit, which may be for commercial use or the public good; the benefit may be new or improved products, processes or services. • Source: http://www.milmi.org/admin/uploadedPublications/1296_Innovation_Indicator_Report_2007.pdf • According to Cutler (2008): Innovation is commonly described as ‘creating value by doing things differently’; or doing something in a novel way’. • Simply it is ‘good ideas put to work’

  12. Categories of Innovation What does NIS mean for individual researchers? 20 Source: Terry Cutler, Venturous Australia, 2008

  13. Innovation is a Dynamic, Evolving and Learning Process According to Cutler (2008) there are three highly interdependent functions within an innovation system: • knowledge production (the origination of new knowledge and ideas); • Knowledge application (the deployment of knowledge and ideas in the real world); and • Knowledge diffusion (the absorption of this applied knowledge and its adaptation in use).

  14. The Systemic Elements of the Innovation Process What does NIS mean for individual researchers? Origination or Adaptation Knowledge Production Creativity; problem solving Policies for a Robust National Innovation System Productivity; Competitiveness Knowledge Diffusion Deployment Entrepreneurialism Knowledge Application Diffusion and Absorption 24 24 Source: Terry Cutler, Venturous Australia, 2008

  15. The National Innovation System (Cont.) • Innovation is built on stocks of knowledge and capability, and the information flows of the innovation capital around these. • Innovation Policy is a central part of Economic policy. • A successful NIS invests in each innovation stock component as well as in the flows and linkages between them. • A NIS incorporates regional and sectoral clusters of activity: RIS and SIS. This is where Ankabut will play a key role. • Within a globalized economy, a NIS also needs to be positioned within a global innovation ecosystem. This is also where Ankabut will play a key role.

  16. Innovation Stocks and Flows What does NIS mean for individual researchers? Source: Terry Cutler, Venturous Australia, 2008 26 Slide 26

  17. What does NIS mean for individual researchers? The Innovation Landscape Governance & Institutional Alignment Information flows and Freedoms to Innovate Entrepreneurial Firms and Innovative Workplaces Sustainable National Prosperity and Wellbeing Supporting Infrastructure National Innovation Priorities Human Capital and Social Networks Global Integration Market Design and Regulation 27 Source: Terry Cutler, Venturous Australia, 2008

  18. What is the National Research Foundation (NRF) in the UAE? 28

  19. NRF Vision NRF Mission To build an internationally competitive research capacity for the economic and social development of the United Arab Emirates. To support world-class research activities, and create an internationally competitive research environment and innovation system in the United Arab Emirates.

  20. NRF will • Fund research activity consistent with national priorities; • Boost research performance and create world-class research Centers in the country; • Encourage collaborative research activity between public and private universities, and industry; • Create new knowledge that leads to economic and social benefits in the UAE; • Facilitate the transfer of knowledge into economic and social activity; • Improve the UAE’s international benchmarking on Research and Development.

  21. NRF at a glance Small organization; focused and flexible; Providing research leadership and advice; Investing in research in UAE universities; Facilitating research networks & partnerships; Helping to build an innovation culture and national innovation system; Assisting industry and commerce grow its research activities; Raising awareness of the importance of research. 32

  22. NRF Stakeholders The Federal Institutions • UAEU, • Zayed University, • HCT CAA Accredited Institutions • 58 heterogeneous “Private” universities and colleges 33

  23. NRF Awards • Research Excellence Centers, 2008 • Four Centers established from 18 proposals: • Water & the Environment • Genes and Diseases • NanoScinece & NanoEngineering • Bilingualism & Bilingual Education • Research & Scholarship Awards, 2009 • 653 Pre-proposals submitted from 33 institutions. Expect to fund 100-150 proposals. 34

  24. National Research Priorities?Emerging Research Opportunities

  25. Conclusion Thank you for listening patiently Now for Questions! 37

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