A research project at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). Spending on scientific R&D in the majority of GCC countries is modest, with the exception of Qatar which allocated 2.8% of its GDP in 2009, according to a Goic official.
By Santhosh V Perumal
Qatar has a solid footing in scientific research and development (R&D) with an allocation 2.8% of the gross domestic product (GDP), which is more than the developed world’s average and much higher than the Gulf average, according to the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (Goic).
Spending on scientific R&D in the majority of GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) countries is modest, with the exception of Qatar which allocated 2.8% of its GDP in 2009, Dr Laila Diab Shrair, strategic planning consultant at the Goic Secretary General Office, said.
The consultant made this observation while presenting a report “The Importance of Innovation in Transforming Applied Research into Competitive Industrial Products” at the recently concluded forum on technological capacity building in the field of modern technologies in the Arab countries in Jordan.
Developed countries allot around 2.5% of their GDP to R&D activities for which the private sector pays around 80% of the total cost. Nevertheless, only 0.2% of the GDP is spent in the GCC countries on R&D, Shrair said, quoting Unesco’s 2010 report.
Spending on scientific research in the GCC countries is low compared with the 3.5% of the GDP in Finland, 3.11% in Japan, 3.7% in Sweden and 4.7% in Israel.
Shrair said the GCC countries need to improve their performance on the basis of the competitive industrial performance index (CIP) to identify new industrial scenarios.
The CIP is based on quantitative indicators and data allowing policy makers to work according to a new manufacturing scenario based on manufacturing for change, fast technological progress, small economic gap and the core of competitiveness complying with innovation, products and high quality resources.
Highlighting that governments and industrial investors take cognizance of the fact that knowledge-based industry strategies are based on competitive advantage, the consultant said wide political reforms are needed to guarantee a vital business environment that reduces bureaucratic barriers, facilitates access to financing and reinforces legal and regulatory frameworks.
“Moreover, educational reform is the first step toward finding a solution to the pressing need for human capital. In addition, governments’ role should be promoted to provide knowledge networks and public private partnerships need to be encouraged to enhance initiatives targeting knowledge-based industries market,” Shrair added.
