Qatar National Research Fund increases ambition and outreach

In addition, funds are nearly double that of last year with US$45 million now available.

Presentations of the program and applications process (which is open to all researchers) will start in Doha then move to the US and UK.

The Fund will visit to some of the mother campuses of the Education City institutions in the USA and culminating with a presentation to faculty at Imperial College in the UK.

The schedule starts with a presentation at Texas A&M University Qatar, Education City on 9th June.

The aim is to build human capital for Qatar. Additionally, it is hoped that the research will result in the creation of intellectual property rights and the commercialization of research. 2.8% of Qatar's GDP is allocated to research.

Last year's cycle saw 47 collaborative research applications involving 33 international institutions. Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie, QNRF Director explains the drive for more "We are keen to encourage collaborative research between Qatar institutions and established research facilities abroad. The benefits are plentiful. Promoting knowledge and technology transfer in this way builds human capital. This in turn helps our institutions attract, develop and retain top faculty."

Dr Mohammed Fathy Saoud, President of Qatar Foundation, commented "This type of activity is an excellent way of raising Qatar's profile in the international academic community and we at the Foundation are delighted that QNRF have taken this initiative. It is fully in keeping with Qatar Foundation's drive to build a knowledge-based society and make Doha the intellectual capital of the region."

NPRP is an annual program. Funds last cycle amounted to $25m; this year's cycle has $45m available.

The NPRP funds original, competitively selected research in natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agricultural sciences, social sciences and humanities. NPRP is the largest funding activity of the QNRF.

The program is administered using international standards including a peer review process.