Recap 2021

A look back at the major events and activities of QNRF over the year

Want to know what we were up to this year?  Then read through our recap of 2021 to learn about some of our activities that give a glimpse into our operations, initiatives, events, and community outreach efforts.

January 2021

Launch of the Equine Research Call

Launched in partnership with the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) Morocco, this call aims to enhance and improve equine research and strengthen the equine industry in Qatar and Morocco by combining their research activities, resources, and practical skills. Read this exclusive piece by Dr. Sadim Jawhar, joint funding program manager at QNRF, to learn more.

February 2021

Additions to the NPRP, QNRF’s Flagship Funding Program

To further encourage our researchers and support them to bring research outcomes to the end-users, QNRF launched two new programs - NPRP-Blue Skies Research Award (BSRA) and NPRP-Research Outcome Implementation Award (ROIA) in February. These programs complement the outcomes of QNRF’s diverse portfolio of research-funding programs, including the flagship National Priorities Research Program. Learn more about these programs from Nadine Younes, pre-award administration manager at QNRF, in this article.

March 2021

Fintech’21 Research Outcome Seminar

Over the years, QNRF has been helping researchers in Qatar to tap the potential and address the challenges posed by FinTech and Blockchain technologies. Throughout the month of March, different departments at QNRF worked together to organize an online Research Outcome Seminar (ROS) titled, “FinTech & Blockchain-based Technologies in Qatar: Current R&D Activities and Challenges,” which invited researchers to share the outcomes of their projects focusing on these emergent technologies. Watch the RoS here to learn more.

April 2021

QNRF and MME Announce Awardees for the Second Cycle of Food Security Call

This year, QNRF and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) received a total of 38 applications, out of which a total of 6 projects were selected for funding. The awarded projects focused on four priority areas ranging from local supply chain and sustainable aquaculture, as well as, technologies to improve the quality of vegetable and animal feed and to accelerate the development of highly productive and healthy animals. Read this interview with our Executive Director to learn more about our Food Security Call and its importance.

May 2021

How a PhD can be a Broad Career Path Enabler

In May 2021, Dr. Ayman Bassil, senior program manager at Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), informed the participants about the broad range of career opportunities available for PhD graduates, including research administration, and the steps to conceptualize and develop a major plan of action after graduation. He also shed light on the support and resources offered by QNRF for the personal and professional development of the students. Watch the webinar here.

June 2021

Joint Research Outcome Seminar

Energy Transitions in the Context of Climate Change and Sustainable Development

Organised by QNRF in partnership with the European Union Delegation to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar, and the EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, the online Research Outcome Seminar (RoS), gave an overview of the steps that EU and GCC have taken to achieve their clean energy targets including the EU green deal and the visions and strategies of GCC countries. Learn more about the webinar by watching it here.

July 2021

Launch of  the Second Cycle of the Rapid Response Call

Building on the success of the inaugural cycle of the Rapid Response Call, QNRF launched the new cycle in July this year to help Qatar act on the lessons learned during the year and help it on its road to recovery. In this cycle, a total of 16 projects were selected for funding. You can learn more about some of these projects and what they aim to achieve here.

August 2021

QNRF supports ICSEWEN’21

Driven by its efforts to foster a thriving and dynamic research culture and promote knowledge exchange, QNRF supported Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) in organizing the second International Conference on Sustainable Energy Water and Environment Nexus in Desert Climates (ICSEWEN’21) in August 2021. Read this interview with Dr. Marc Vermeersch, QEERI’s Executive Director, to learn more about the conference and its impact.

September 2021

Research Outcome Seminar (ROS)

ADVANCING RESEARCH IN PEDIATRIC DISEASES AND CONDITIONS

We invited leading researchers and healthcare experts to share insights into their QNRF-funded projects about pediatric diseases and conditions and provide an outlook on how the incorporation of genomic approaches and regenerative medicine in pediatric care can be effective in ensuring long-term health and well-being of people in Qatar. Read our QNRF Community feature to learn more about the RoS and watch it.

October 2021

Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie at Al Maerifa Public Seminar Series

and the 13^th Annual UREP Competition and BRIO Competition

The month of October was quite a busy one for us. With most of the staff back in the office, we had several events lined up to make the most out of it. Our Executive Director, Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, was invited to deliver a public lecture as part of the Al Maerifa Series hosted by Texas A&M University at Qatar. You can watch it here to learn more about QNRF’s 15-year journey of nurturing a thriving research culture in Qatar.

Moreover, during October, we also held the annual Undergraduate Research Experience Program Competition to celebrate our talented young researchers along with the Best Representative Image of an Outcome Competition to showcase the artistic side of research. Browse through our newsletter to meet the winners of the UREP Competition and BRIO 2021.

November 2021

National Scientific Research and Innovation Week (NSRIW) 2021

The NSRIW is one of the most important events in our calendar as it brings together our future generation of scientific and research leadership from schools across Qatar to spark their intellectual curiosity and provide them with a hands-on approach to dealing with complex scientific topics. Moreover, it also provides a platform to recognize the achievements of our young scientists and identify the top talent to represent Qatar at international competitions. Read this interview with Dr. Abdulla Al-Kamali, Education Outreach Expert at QNRF, to learn more about NSRIW and its impact.

December 2021

Research Outcome Seminars on Healthy Living and “Preserving Family Values in a Globalized World”

Interested to learn more about these Research Outcome Seminars? Read this month’s QNRF Community feature to gain an in-depth insight into both the seminars and explore the featured research projects.