By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), yesterday urged the Arab world to invest more in research and development and reiterated Qatar’s commitment to confront future challenges through scientific research and sustainable development.
She delivered the Leadership Address at the opening of the two -day Annual Research Conference 2016 (ARC 16) held under the theme ‘Investing in Research and Innovating for Society.’ Also, the Inaugural QF Research & Development Best Research Project Award and Best Innovation Award were presented during the opening plenary session.
“Qatar is a primary emerging economy strategically investing in science, research and development in accordance with the requirements of progress and solutions for various developmental challenges. Qatar possesses the success factors for development based on scientific research, particularly the political will, quality education, financial resources, and R&D centres, in addition to world-class scientific and academic partnerships,” said Sheikha Moza. Comparing investments in R&D in other parts of the world, she said, “In comparison with Western countries and Eastern Asia, the Arab world’s investment in research and development is minimal, particularly in the private sector.
“It is a dilemma that requires immediate action,” Sheikha Moza added.
Highlighting the direct impact of economic development on all other development paths, Sheikha Moza said that economy should enjoy a broad and in-depth research through applied research. That can be realized through a broad coalition of stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
She added that Qatar will continue its journey and will confront future challenges through scientific research as a renewable and sustainable wealth integrated with natural resources and sustainable development.
The renaissance of nations in the modern era proved that the great development was built on a foundation of quality education and systematic financial support for scientific research, said Sheikha Moza.
HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairperson of QF and several other dignitaries, senior officials and more than 2000 delegates from around the world were present at the opening session of ARC 16.
Sheikha Hind presented the QF R&D Best Research Project Award to Dr Shehab Ahmed, Associate Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar for his work on power electronics. Funded by QNRF, the project focuses on the development of power electronics and systems for the integration of renewable energy into the power grid.
The Best Innovation Award was presented to Dr Adnan Abu Dayya, Executive Director and CEO of Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) for Masarak- iTraffic. Masarak- iTraffic is an intelligent traffic monitoring and navigation application developed and deployed by QMIC in partnership with the Ministry of Municipality and Planning.
“This is a good recognition for the hard work of the team. I’m keen on translating research to results. This is what we have to be doing in the Arab world, the money which has been spent on research trying to translate. We are trying our best to add value,” Dr Ahmed told reporters upon receiving the award.
Dr Abu-Dayya said, “The award is a great recognition for our efforts and it gives us a momentum really to go faster and deeper in certain areas. Gives us support expand beyond the country.
“We developed the only intelligent platform in the country and the region. That’s focusing on intelligent mobility traffic navigation road safety. This platform has been available commercially.”
A Opening Plenary Session at ARC 2016 discussed ‘Strategic Investment in Research and Innovation for Society’. Panellists included Dr Hassan Al Derham, President of Qatar University, Dr Elias Zerhouni, President of Global R&D, Sanofi, France, and Former Director of the National Institutes of Health, US; Suresh Sachi, Deputy Managing Director of Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore and Mr Christopher Coburn, Vice President, Innovation, Partners HealthCare in the US. The Keynote Panel Discussion was moderated by Dr Maher Hakim, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q).
ARC’16 will conclude today with the announcement of the ARC’16 Awards recognizing the Best Student Poster Presentations, Regular Poster Presentations and Best Research Presentation in the fields of Energy and Environment, Computing and Information Technology, Health and Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities.
The Peninsula
