QNRF session focuses on research funding opportunities

The Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) – a member of Qatar Foundation (QF) – recently brought together members of Qatar’s academic and research community, stakeholders, end-users, and the public for an in-depth information session on its various research funding streams.

Established in 2006, QNRF has evolved as a result-oriented support system for innovative and original research projects that aim to address Qatar’s main challenges.

Through funding programmes that provide support at all levels and across all disciplines, QNRF is committed to helping raise the country’s research and development profile, while nurturing and guiding local research talent and building Qatar’s research capacity.

The information session provided the attendees with insight into the guiding principles that contributed to the selection of the priority themes for this year’s funding calls.

The priority themes have been selected for their importance and contribution to sustainable development in Qatar, potential to generate innovation, facilitate technology transfer, and enhance competitiveness and diversification of Qatar’s economy.

Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, executive director of QNRF, said, “The aim of the session was to provide a detailed overview of the programmes, funding proposals, research areas, and themes to help key investigators enhance their efforts by selecting the appropriate themes, and the right track and the funding programme.

“Along with researchers and scientific research experts in Qatar, we invited representatives from major stakeholders and research end-users to intensify institutional co-operation, particularly academic, industrial, and public collaborations, in a bid to optimise resources and maximise the impact of QNRF funding beyond the strict academic scope.” 

QNRF’s senior programme managers briefed the attendees on this year’s funding calls, which, alongside QNRF’s flagship funding programme National Priorities Research Programme, include the Path Towards Precision Medicine, jointly funded with QF member Qatar Genome Programme; OSRA, jointly funded with QF member Doha International Family Institute; Smart Manufacturing, jointly funded with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey; Food Security, jointly funded with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment; Education, jointly funded with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; and the international call of Disaster Risk, Reduction and Resilience, jointly funded with Belmont Forum.

Participants also learned about the guidance and support that QNRF offers through various channels and platforms to help them during the application process.

The information session was followed by a Q&A session, where QNRF’s senior management gave in-depth responses to queries posed by the audience. Dr Hisham M Sabir, director – Technical, QNRF, said, “the information session reflects QNRF’s tradition of engaging Qatar’s research community in events of consultation and guidance by laying a road map of QNRF’s current and upcoming funding opportunities.”

Additionally, the information session was attended by representatives from partnering organisations, who gave attendees further information about the jointly funded programmes.