Joseph Varghese

 

Qatar University (QU) will collaborate with Horizon 2020, the European Union’s biggest research programme, in conducting research on diabetes and smart city applications. Horizon 2020 has nearly €80bn  available for research and innovation.

“The talks are in the initial stages about the modalities of conducting the research,” Dr Hassan al-Derham, vice president for research, QU, told Gulf Times on the sidelines of an information session on Horizon 2020 at the Research Complex of QU.

“Qatar University is keen to collaborate with international organisations’ research bodies and universities for research on topics related to  the needs of the country and the region. We have discussed with the Horizon 2020 team for possibilities of collaboration in the research of diabetes and smart city applications,” he explained.

“We will be forming teams for research activities in these areas in the near future. The teams will consist of researchers from Qatar and  the Arab states on one side and the European researchers on the other. More details will be discussed once the teams are formed. The information session will throw more light on the projects.”

Dr al-Derham pointed out that QU already had undertaken  a major initiative for intelligent transportation system. “We also have programmes related for sustainable development for smart buildings and connectivity as well as raising the quality of the life of the people in the country. We will try to incorporate our expertise and experience in these fields and will try more innovations.”

The vice president pointed out that QU was already collaborating with more than 175 universities and research centres in the European Union on various projects.

“We take every opportunity to deepen research and enhance innovation. The recently announced research road map of the university for 2014 – 2019 is mainly on energy, environment, resource sustainability, social change and social identities, population health and wellness and information technology. We would like to share our knowledge while making use of the expertise of EU researchers in many of these fields.”

Several officials of  Horizon 2020, leading researchers from the country were present on the occasion. Dr Elizabeth Lipiatou, European Commission head for Africa and the Gulf, and Thierry Devars, director general for research,  European Commission, briefed participants on the features of the programme.    

Horizon 2020 has opened the plans to promote co-operation in research projects between the Gulf countries and the European Union. According to the officials of Horizon 2020, there will be future events which will form the framework of the whole project.

 

GE pledges to build
Qatari human capital

Global industrial technology firm GE is keen on opening more career opportunities for local engineering students in aviation and also double its Qatari workforce in the company’s oil and gas research facility. Parmjit Khera, leader of the GE Advanced Technology Research Centre (ATRC), told Gulf Times that “one of the central commitments of the GE Aviation business at ATRC is to promote localised innovation and build Qatari human capital”. Housed inside the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), the 13,400sqm ATRC focuses on applied research and knowledge transfer across GE’s four business divisions on global research, oil and gas, aviation, and healthcare.

 

 

 

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