October, 2009

Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie,

Executive Director, QNRF

Qatar National Research Fund

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

Outline

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.

QATAR FOUNDATIONfor Education, Science and Community Development

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”.

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.

Qatar Science Technology Park

Qatar Foundation

Schools• Qatar Academy• Bridge program

• The Learning Centre

Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar

Texas A&M Universityat Qatar

Carnegie Mellon Qatar

Georgetown University in Qatar

ConventionCentre

Sidra Medical and Research Centre

Northwestern University

Faculty of Islamic Studies

Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS)

Overview of QNRS:

QF is entrusted with the implementation of the QatarNational Research Strategy (QNRS) whose main drivers are:

Support for existing industry. Diversification. International Recognition. Environmental Protection. Improving Health. Education. Quality of Life.

QF Research - Long Term Vision

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

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

Phase 1: Pursuit of Cutting Edge Science

Phase 2: Position Qatar as Major Regional Contributor of Science

Phase 3: Become A Magnet for Innovative R&D Worldwide

Building Qatar’s strength from Day 1 progressing in parallel

Achieve significant advancement in niche areas of research and ensure this step forward becomes the growth sectors of tomorrow

2007 2012 2017 20182008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2019 2020 2021 2022

Hamad Medical Corporation

Genomic Medicine & Biobank

Nanomedicne

SIDRA Labs

WCMC-Q

AES Biomed ProgramsCancer

Neurosciences

Stem cells RCE

Clean EnergyRCE

Green Projects: Qur’anic BG Qatar Biodome Moza Rose Garden

Qatar & Arabian Deserts Gardens

CRES

OtherLabs

AES Enviro ProgramsEcology & WaterBuilt Environm

Other REC

AES ICT ProgramsDigital society

Arab Internet Cont.

ComputationalScience

Other RCE

OtherLabs

Other Research Facilities

Bioinformatics

Pharmaceutical Engineering

Bio-Engineering

Other RCE

OtherLabs

AES RCE

Nano-biosystem

Qatar Business & Research Qatar Business & Research OrganizationsOrganizations

Qatar Governmental Qatar Governmental InstitutionsInstitutions

QF Model for Research Integration and Coordination

ShafallahShafallah

Qatar National Research Fund

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.

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.

Qatar National Research Fund

QNRF Programs & Activities

QNRF Programs & ActivitiesCurrent:

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.

Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)

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.

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.

Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)

Biannual National Research Survey(BNRS)

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.

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.

Conferences and Workshops Sponsorship Program)CWSP(

Conferences and Workshops Sponsorship Program

(CWSP) Achievements

QNRF sponsored 4 major international conferences through the CWSP over the last year:

1. Logic Programming Artificial Inelegance and Reasoning (LPAR 08).

2. Information and Communication Technologies and

Development (ICTD 09).

3. 11th International Conference on Relational Methods in Computer Science/6th Applications of Kleene Algebra (RelMiCS11).

4. 17th International Conference on Telecommunications.

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).

Enhanced (in-house) the online submission solution with 3

separate channels for:

•Applicants (around 7000).

•Research Offices (23).

•Peer Reviewers (around 3500).

QNRF Support Activities Achievements

National Priorities Research Program

(NPRP)

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.

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.

NPRP ProposalProject 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.

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).

NPRP Flowchart

Lead PI

Registration

QNRF screeni

ng

Notifying Ineligible Proposal

s

RORegistratio

n

Submit Propos

al

ROVet

Evaluation

Received

Steering Committe

e

QF EBOD Approv

al

Reviewers

Statistical

Analysis FundingOption

Award Notificati

on (RO/LPI)

Receiving Complementary Documents For Funded

Projects

FMA Signing and Disbursement Of Funds

Submit LOI

NPRP 3rd Cycle Timeline

Payment Schedule1 year Project2 year Project3 year Project

Year 1Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

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.

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 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.

30% upon receipt and acceptance of the interim progress

report. 20% upon receipt

and acceptance of the final 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

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.

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.

1st & 2nd NPRP Cycles General Statistics

Summary1st Cycle2nd Cycle

Letters of Intent (LOIs)341748

submitted Proposals 206489

Ineligible Proposals316

Submitting Institutions1823

Number of participants15373274

Participating Institutions 302277

Institutions Countries 3346

Distribution of Proposals per Disciplines

Results of the NPRP 2nd cycle

To sign in/sign up: (www.qnrfsubmission.info/prog/)

QNRF website ( www.qnrf.org )

Qatar Development

Doha 2025

Thank You for Your Attention

Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie Executive Director, QNRF

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.

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.

Weill Cornell Medical College

- 2 year Premedical Program.

- 4 year M.D. Program.

Carnegie Mellon University

- Business Administration.

- Computer Science.

- Information Systems.

Texas A&M University in Qatar

- Chemical Engineering.

- Electrical Engineering.

- Mechanical Engineering.

- Petroleum Engineering.

Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts in Qatar

- Graphic Design.

- Interior Design.

- Fashion Design and Merchandising.

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.