NRF Research Funding
programs
Dr Ahmed Alosi
Research Program Manager
13 December , 2012
About NRF
Established on Friday, March 7th, 2008 by his Excellency Sheikh
Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education &
Scientific Research
Vision
To support world-class research activities and create an
internationally competitive research environment and national
innovation system in the United Arab Emirates
Mission
To build an internationally competitive research capacity for the
economic and social development of the United Arab Emirates
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Main Objectives
NRF was created to undertake the following Functions
• Raise awareness in the country of the important role that
R&D plays in helping to build a competitive knowledge
economy.
• Promote and expand R&D in the country
• Universities and colleges, Industry, & Government
• University/Industry Collaboration
• Provide funding for research projects on a competitive basis.
3
Key Stakeholders
3 Federal Institutions
• UAEU
• Zayed University
• HCT
CAA Accredited Institutions
• 73 heterogeneous “Private” universities & colleges
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Current/Past
Competitions
NRF
• Research Excellence Centers (REC)
• Research and Scholarship Awards (RSA)
UAEU Research Grant Program 2011
• Implementation (Submissions & Review) prepared using NRF’s
Microedge System
• Sourcing the reviewers from NRF’s pool of international experts.
• Pre/Post evaluated of pre-proposal and full proposals.
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• Final Recommendations
What have we done so Far?
Competitions
2008 / 2009
Programs
RSA 2009 (CAA)
REC 2008 (Federal
institutions)
Number of
Winners
applications
758
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Amount
Awarded
200,000 AED
Number of
applications
RSA
2009
REC
2008
18
4
vary
6
RSA 2009 Domain Summary
1.2 Computer and information sciences
1.4 Chemical sciences
1.5 Earth and related Environmental
sciences
1.6 Biological sciences (Medical,
Agricultural)
2.1 Civil engineering
2.5 Materials engineering
2.7 Environmental engineering
4.4 Agricultural biotechnology
5.1 Psychology
Research and Scholar Award (RSA)
Novel approaches toward the discovery of drugs for the treatment of Diabetes, Obesity
and Cancer, Dr. Taleb Al-Tel
Development of functional nanocomposite materials to harvest fresh water from humid
atmosphere, Dr. Raed Hashaikeh, Product development.
Development of a Satellite-Based Tool to Forecast and Monitor Fog Events in UAE Coastal
Cities Using, Dr Hosni Ghedira
Understanding family businesses in UAE through an evolutionary perspective ,
Dr. Virginia Bodolica
The Emirates Internet Project, Dr. ILHEM ALLAGUI
EXPLOITING TREEBANK RESOURCES FOR EXTENDING A RULE-BASED ARABIC PARSER COVERAGE,
Dr. Khaled Shaalan
Theoretical and technological innovation in the identification and exploration of
Depression, Dr. Justin Thomas
Governance of Temporary Labor Migration: A Case Study of the UAE, HABIBUL KHONDKER.
The UAE Family Under Global Transformation, Dr. Rima Sabban.
Sustainable management of the indigenous Ghaf tree: understanding population
composition, reproduction, Dr. David Gallacher
Research Visit -RSA
University of Sharjah
American University of Sharjah
Masdar Institute
Zayed University
Completed Competitions
Programs
Winners
Emirati Faculty Research Mobility Award (EFRMA)
5
Young Emirati Postgraduate Research Students Mobility
Award (YEPRSMA)
1
EFRMA 2011
YEPRSMA 2011
YERP 2011
YEIP 2011
Young Emirati Researchers Prize (YERP)
13
PFA 2011
UIRCA 2011
Young Emirati Innovators Prize (YEIP )
Patent Filing Award (PFA)
University Industrial Collaboration Award (UIRCA)
3
3
11
10
UIRCA Domain Summary
1.2 Computer and Information
Sciences
1.4 Chemical Sciences
1.5 Earth and related
Environmental Sciences
1.6 Biological Sciences (Medical,
Agricultural)
2.2 Electrical engineering,
Electronic engineering,
Information engineering
UIRCA Funded Projects
Identification of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes (Type
2) Induced Cardiovascular Disease in the UAE Arab Population, Dr. Habiba Alsafar
Design and Implementation of a Grading System for Assessing Posterior Capsule
Opacifiaction using Medical Digital Images,Dr. Naoufel Werghi
An Integrated Approach to Enhance National Strategic Groundwater Reserves via
Managed Aquifer Recharge of Recycled Water, Dr. Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed
Nano Lab on a Chip for Virus Detection, Dr. Mahmoud Al Ahmad
Glycomic Screen for Novel Molecular Therapeutic Targets: Insights into Saffron's
Protection against Liver Cancer, Dr. Amr A. Amin
Introducing safranal-based nanoparticles as a novel biodegradable anti-cancer drug using
supercritical fluid technology,Dr. Ali Al-Marzouqi
A Wireless Charging Infrastructure for Future Electric Cars in the UAE, Dr. Mohamed K.
Watfa
Effective User Participation for Information Systems Assimilation: A Multi-level Approach,
Dr. Kathy Ning Shen
Ozone Observations and their Analysis with Circulation Models,Dr. Tariq Majeed,
Machinability Analysis of Difficult to cut MaterialsDr. Ibrahim Deiab,
Assessment of Forage Productivity and Carrying Capacity of Dubai Deserts rangelands:
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve as a case study, Dr. Ali El-Keblawy
Hot Topics-Studies
Competitiveness of the UAE
•Dr. Jay Squalli- AUS and ZU
An Insight into the Aspirations of Young Emirates
Dr Nasr Arif- ZU
Justice System experiences of young Emiratis,
Dr. Robert Villa-UAEU
Labor Market Behavior and Characteristics of Emirati Unemployed With Special Emphasis on Young Unemployed
Dr. Mouawiya Al Awad- ZU
Educational aspirations and expectations of Emirati secondary school students
Dr. Kenneth Carr ZU
An Analysis of Health Status of the UAE
Professor Tar-Ching Aw- UAEU
Social Networks and National Pride
Dr. Simon Jones- HCT
Grants Managements-Outline
International Best Practice
Competitions Process
Electronic Management System
Current/Past Competitions
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International Best Practice
Competitive bases Awards and Grants
Call documents are tailored and
designed with clear guidelines
International experts
(Reviewers/Panelists)
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Process
Proposal Submission
• Two+ stage submissions (Preproposal, Full proposal)
• Internal pre-evaluation
• Hard Deadlines
• Advantage of 2 stage is to
outsource the right reviewer
• Feedback is provided at every
stage
• Frascati Domains Classification
Review
• International Experts
• USA, Canada, Australia and
Europe.
• These experts are all researchers
of international standing,
experienced in grant proposal
evaluation
• Panel Reviewers
• Postal Reviewers (min 2 per
proposal)
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Competition’s Lifecycle
Call is
issued
EOI/PreProposal/
Full
Proposal
received
through
online
portal
Proposals
evaluated
by
Panel/Ext
ernal
Reviewer
s through
online
portal
Winners
Selected
and
informed
Award &
Contract
is issued
Award is
followed
with
Progress
Report
(till
award is
closed)
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Electronic Management System
MicroEdge Grant Management software
• All submissions & reviews are received through an online
portal and managed and stored in a central database
• Off shelf product that NRF uses in managing its proposal life
cycle.
• Microedge services to foundations, corporations, government
agencies, donors, advisors and financial institutions.
• The company is based in New York, with regional offices in
United Kingdom and in Australia.
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What have we done so Far?
Consultancy Services
• Grant Management for UAEU (138 proposals Cycle II)-2011
• Grant Management For UAEU ( 144 proposals Cycle III) 2012
Workshops
• NRF Public Awareness Workshops
• Technology Transfer Workshops
• IP Protection and IP Law (IBM )
• Science, Technology and Innovation--- Imperatives for Socioeconomic Development (Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman)
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UAEU-NRF Grants cycle III-2012
7
Proposals
144
Researchers 310
Reviewers
Time
1. Natural Sciences
26
18
2. Engineering and
Technology
350
6 weeks
3. Medical and Health
Sciences
13
4. Agricultural Sciences
5. Social Sciences
34
6. Humanities
28
What is Next?
NRF will continue to
• Build an internationally competitive National Innovation
System
• Promote Intellectual Property (IP)
• Build R&D Capacities
• Explore new local and international channels for research
collaboration
• Build a Hub of R&D Resources and Knowledge for the UAE
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