Research chief calls for more scientists

Scientific research in Qatar needs more scientists, says chief of QF Research Division

The biggest challenge in adopting a research-based culture in Qatar is the lack of scientists, the chief of Qatar Foundation Research Division, has said.

The division, since its establishment in late 2007 at the Education City, had been engaged in identifying the needs and challenges of scientific research in the country, Dr Abdelali Haoudi, vice president of the research division said.

But what it has found is the lack of “scientists and experts in the fi eld” according to Dr Haoudi.

However, that is not deterring the QF Research Division, which is mandated with co-ordinating, integrating and overseeing all research activities within the campus, in pursuing the mission.

“What we will do is to start we already have - world-class research programmes in partnership with universities based at the campus and train a homegrown cadre of researchers to take responsibility for the initiatives in parallel,” Dr Haoudi said.

“It is not like starting the programmes and then waiting for a generation to be ready and take over.”

The QF Research has implemented a strategic plan since 2007, after identifying challenges.

“We’ve already partnered with five universities at the QF; three have started their research programmes. We are also exploring partnerships with regional and international research centres,” Dr Haoudi added.

The James Baker Institute at the Houston-based Rice University was one he named. The division also hosts Nobel laureates as part of its Distinguished Lecture Series and has kicked off the Qatar Science Leadership Programme.

“These are out there now so students can embark on a journey of explorations and

scientific revelation.” Priority areas, according to the official, are energy and medicine; they generate huge interest in students and researchers too, followed by environment.

“Let’s take the example of medicine research: we can’t just do any medical research here without co-ordinating with the Health Ministry, without knowing what their regulations are, the policies on clinical trials and the type of medical issues they would like the research to be conducted on,” the official explained.

“The most important thing is the quality of research programmes; the co-ordination level and integration of the discoveries.”

In that capacity, the QF Research will also be working closely with the Qatar National Research Fund and the Qatar Science and Technology Park, to ensure there are no duplications.

Dr Haoudi said the research culture in Qatar is at an “early stage” but added there is “a lot of excitement about it.”

Qatar has allocated 2.8% of its GDP for research and development making it the only Arab country to feature in the list of top 10 countries with the highest ratio of GDP allocated to research.

“If you are asking me what discoveries and inventions we have made so far, research takes time. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel but to research on models that will develop this country. It is not going to be copy-and-paste,” Dr Haoudi said.