Building Research Capacity in the UAE
The Role of the
National Research Foundation (NRF)
Presentation to
Information and Communication
Technology Research Forum
(ICTRF2009)
By Dr. Kenneth Wilson
Director
National Research Foundation, UAE
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Objectives
To enable the participants to better understand:
UAE research performance.
The Knowledge Economy.
The National Innovation System (NIS).
National Research Foundation (NRF)
Slide 2
UAE Research Performance
The United Arab Emirates is the 66th ranked producer of
scientific publications in the world in 2006, but 87th in
publication impact as measured by the h-index.
UAE experienced steady growth in output through 2005,
but its share of global and regional output is now in decline.
UAE has not matched the exceptional growth experienced
in Iran or Egypt.
Indicator
Value
Global Rank
Regional Rank
Publication
7202
66
7
44
87
7
h-index
Source: SRI International
Slide 3
MENA Scientific Publications
Source: SRI International
Slide 4
UAE Research Publications by Institution
Publications
2000-2006
Average Impact
United Arab Emirates
University
1758
3.41
American University of
Sharjah
252
1.88
University of Sharjah
197
2.37
Tawam Hosp
161
2.69
Mafraq Hosp
68
1.65
Khalifa University (Etisalat
College)
67
3.75
Central Vet Research Lab
65
4.26
University
Source: SRI International
Top Fields
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Engineering, Chemical
Cell Biology, Obstetrics & Gynecology,
Pediatrics
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Mathematics, Applied
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Mathematics, Applied
Mathematics
Medicine, General & Internal
Pediatrics
Surgery
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical
Imaging
Rheumatology
Ophthalmology
Mathematics, Applied
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Mathematics
Veterinary Sciences
Reproductive Biology
Food Science & Technology
Slide 7
What is the Knowledge Economy?
“A knowledge-driven economy is one in which the generation and
exploitation of knowledge play the predominant part in the creation of
wealth” (UK Department of Trade & Industry, 1998).
Economic prosperity depends upon knowledge creation and learning.
Knowledge includes
know-what
know-why
know-who
know-where
know-when
Slide 10
What is Knowledge Economy? (Cont.)
A company’s intellectual capital is embodied in its
employee’s knowledge, brainpower and processes. The
ability to continuously improve these processes is a
source of competitive advantage.
the enablers of knowledge creation
ICTs are
tools for releasing the creative potential and
knowledge embodied in people.
Slide 11
Measuring the Knowledge Economy
The World Bank Knowledge Assessment Methodology identifies
four pillars of the Knowledge Economy:
• Pillar1
• Pillar4
• Pillar2
Economic
and
institutional
regime
Education and
skills
Innovation
system
ICT
infrastructure
• Pillar3
Slide 12
Knowledge and Innovation Rank for GCC Countries
among world countries
Knowledge Rank among 140 countries
Country
KEI
Innovation’s Rank among 134 countries
KI
Country
Bahrain
49
53
Kuwait
50
54
Oman
62
Qatar
Quality of
Universityscientific research industry research
institutions
collaboration
Bahrain
100
101
Kuwait
54
73
73
Oman
59
39
45
49
Qatar
30
25
Saudi Arabia
65
68
Saudi Arabia
47
37
UAE
42
42
UAE
74
58
Source: The Knowledge Assessment Methodology (KAM) 2008
rankings for 140 countries, The World Bank Institute
Source: The Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, World
Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey 2007, 2008
Slide 13
Education Rank for GCC Countries among 134 countries
Country
Quality of
Primary
Education
Secondary
Enrollment
Tertiary
Enrollment
Quality of the
Educational
System
Bahrain
65
19
64
56
Kuwait
92
60
88
94
Oman
43
62
77
51
Qatar
22
23
85
16
Saudi Arabia
75
39
70
70
UAE
39
56
79
38
Source: The Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, World Economic Forum Executive Opinion
Survey 2007, 2008
Slide 14
What is Innovation?
Innovation is the conversion of knowledge and ideas into a
benefit, which may be for commercial use or the public good;
the benefit may be new or improved products, processes or
services.
Source: http://www.milmi.org/admin/uploadedPublications/1296_Innovation_Indicator_Report_2007.pdf
According to Cutler (2008): Innovation is
commonly described as ‘creating value by
doing things differently’; or doing something
in a novel way’.
Simply it is ‘good ideas put to work’
Slide 17
Innovation is a
process of
continuously
generating and
applying new
ideas.
Innovation is
one of the key
drivers of
economic
growth.
Innovation
Innovation is
essential to the
competitiveness
and sustainability
of an economy
and society.
Innovation
complements and
facilitates the
knowledge
creation and
application
process.
Slide 18
What does
NIS meanof
forInnovation
individual researchers?
Categories
Product Innovation
Science-Led
CustomerDriven
Radical
Solar Panel
Water
Heating
Internet
Search
Engines
Incremental
More
HomeEfficient or delivered
Cheaper
Pizzas
Solar Panels
Process Innovation
Technological
Genetically
Modified
Crops
Organizational
Toyota’s Total
Quality
Management
Reducing
A more Efficient
Evaporation in Pay or Bonus
Irrigation
System
Systems
20
Slide20
Innovation is a Dynamic, Evolving and
Learning Process
According to Cutler (2008) there are three
highly interdependent functions within an
innovation system:
• knowledge production (the origination of new
knowledge and ideas);
• Knowledge application (the deployment of
knowledge and ideas in the real world); and
• Knowledge diffusion (the absorption of this
applied knowledge and its adaptation in use).
Slide 23
The Systemic
Elements
the
Innovation
Process
What does
NIS meanoffor
individual
researchers?
Origination or
Adaptation
Knowledge
Diffusion
Diffusion and
Absorption
Knowledge
Production
Policies for
a Robust
National
Innovation
System
Deployment
Knowledge
Application
24
Source: Terry Cutler, Venturous Australia, 2008
Slide24
The National Innovation System (Cont.)
Innovation is built on stocks of knowledge and
capability, and the information flows of the innovation
capital around these.
Innovation Policy is a central part of Economic policy.
A successful NIS invests in each innovation stock
component as well as in the flows and linkages between
them.
A NIS incorporates regional and sectoral clusters of
activity: RIS and SIS. This is where Ankabut will play a
key role.
Within a globalized economy, a NIS also needs to be
positioned within a global innovation ecosystem. This is
Slide 25
also where Ankabut will play a key role.
WhatInnovation
does NIS mean
for individual
researchers?
Stocks
and Flows
Stocks
Flows
Human Capital
Social Networks
Institutions
Trusted transactions
Facilities (plant and equipment)
Fitness for purposes; access and
Operability
Information and data
Access; freedoms to use and adapt
Source: Terry Cutler, Venturous Australia, 2008
26
Slide 26
What does NIS mean for individual researchers?
The Innovation Landscape
Governance &
Institutional
Alignment
National
Innovation
Priorities
Entrepreneurial Firms
and Innovative
Sustainable National
Workplaces
Prosperity and
Wellbeing
Human Capital and
Social Networks
Information
flows and
Freedoms to
Innovate
Supporting
Infrastructure
Global Integration
Market Design and
Regulation
27
Source: Terry Cutler, Venturous Australia, 2008
Slide 27
What is the
National Research Foundation (NRF)
in the UAE?
Slide 28
28
NRF Vision
To support world-class research activities, and create
an internationally competitive research environment
and innovation system in the United Arab Emirates.
NRF Mission
To build an internationally competitive research
capacity for the economic and social
development of the United Arab Emirates.
Slide 29
NRF will
Fund research activity consistent with national priorities;
Boost research performance and create world-class
research Centers in the country;
Encourage collaborative research activity between public
and private universities, and industry;
Create new knowledge that leads to economic and social
benefits in the UAE;
Facilitate the transfer of knowledge into economic and
social activity;
Improve the UAE’s international benchmarking on
Research and Development.
Slide 30
NRF at a glance
Small organization; focused and flexible;
Providing research leadership and advice;
Investing in research in UAE universities;
Facilitating research networks & partnerships;
Helping to build an innovation culture and national
innovation system;
Assisting industry and commerce grow its research
activities;
Raising awareness of the importance of research.
Slide 32
32
NRF Stakeholders
The Federal Institutions
UAEU,
Zayed University,
HCT
CAA Accredited Institutions
58 heterogeneous “Private” universities and
colleges
Slide 33
33
NRF Awards
Research Excellence Centers, 2008
• Four Centers established from 18 proposals:
• Water & the Environment
• Genes and Diseases
• NanoScinece & NanoEngineering
• Bilingualism & Bilingual Education
Research & Scholarship Awards, 2009
• 653 Pre-proposals submitted from 33 institutions.
Expect to fund 100-150 proposals.
34
Slide 34
NRF’s 2009 Research & Scholarship Awards:
Pre-proposal Submissions by Domain
Domain
Number of Pre-proposal Submissions
Agricultural Sciences
16
Biological Sciences
13
Business Management
57
Chemical Sciences
22
Computer and Information Science Engineering
88
Earth Sciences
10
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
26
Economics, Finance, and Accounting
48
Engineering
127
Humanities and Cultural Studies
33
Material Science and Engineering
22
Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Sciences
103
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
29
Social Sciences
59
Total
653
Slide 35
National Research Priorities?
Emerging Research Opportunities
Environment
- Water, soil/desert
- Air pollution & dust
Health
- Genetic diseases
- Diabetes and obesity
Energy
- Petroleum extraction and downstreaming
- Solar and other alternatives
Education
- K-12
- Science & Math
Transport, Logistics & Tourism
-
Air, sea and auto
Risk management and distribution
Sustainable cities
-
Sustainable buildings
Sustainable roads and infrastructure
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Knowledge Economy
- NIS, RIS, SIS, GI Ecosystem
Culture and Religion
- Social change and cultural tensions
- Religion and pluralism
Slide 36
Conclusion
Thank you for listening patiently
Now for Questions!
Slide 37
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