Staff Reporter
THE grants under the National Priorities Research Programme of the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) have been hailed as an initiative that would assist in fostering a viable research culture aimed at building a strong and vital knowledge-based economy.
This was the observation of Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) dean and chief executive officer Mark Weichold, whose institution has received 20 out of the 47 awards totalling $25mn over a three-year period.
“The inaugural research award is a big step forward in research for the university and the country at large,” he stated.
The signing of agreements with the 10 institutions which have won the awards, from various fields including science, engineering, medicine, arts and technology, took place on Wednesday.
The 47 awardees included 12 researchers from Qatar University (QU), seven from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), three reseachers from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), two in Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q), while College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q), Georgetown University as well as King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research received one award each.
While speaking on behalf of a group of researchers whose joint proposal was accepted by the fund, Mohamed-Slim Alouini of TAMUQ and Mazen Hasna of QU said the presentation of the award further strengthens opportunities for them to formulate collaborations between institutions across continents.
“Our work ‘Collaborative Strategies for 60GHz Wireless personal Area Networks’ was a joint venture between both of us here and two other researchers from Korea University and University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada,” Alouini said.
QU’s vice-president for Research Hassan al-Derham proposed that the research award celebration should be put on national event calendar, adding that it signalled the beginning of a knowledge-based economy in the country.
Another awardee, Lead Scholar at the QU’s College of Arts and Sciences Prof Malcom Potts, said the establishment of research award has a very important significance for the country.
“This move by the country will encourage a lot of collaboration works and ensure an expansion of the country’s ability to work beyond its shores,” he said while adding that: “It will also create credible opportunities for students in learning, as well as help in developing the university’s infrastructure.”
Also the managing director of HMC Dr Hanan al-Kuwairi said the awards received by HMC’s researchers was an indication of the quality of the proposals submitted.
“HMC has always emphasised excellence at all times, especially the academic research, which is a very important component of medical practice,” she said.
Another recipient from the TAMUQ, Hussein al-Nuweiri said the introduction of the award will open new era in terms of world class research participation not only in Qatar but also in the Middle East.
“These awards will enable knowledge and information flow from within different fields and areas of specialisation, which is particularly good for the region in contributing to ideas, suggestions and solutions to scientific problems,” he added. |
