QNRF Announces Results of NPRP s 4th Cycle

Doha, May 18 (QNA)- At its 3rd Annual Forum, Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, announced on Wednesday that a total of US$121 million a seven percent increase from last year will be distributed among 145 research proposals for funding as part of the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) the flagship funding program of QNRF designed to foster a research culture in Qatar.
The projects all lie in the following research areas: natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agricultural sciences, social sciences and humanities.
Held at the Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel, the event was attended by some of the leading researchers in Qatar.
Since the beginning of NPRP s fourth cycle in September 2010, QNRF received over 1,400 Letters of Intent, out of which 695 proposals were submitted to QNRF. The 695 proposals were vetted by the Research Offices of the Qatari submitting institutions and then screened by QNRF, only 631 proposals were sent for external review by 5 international peer reviewers per proposal, culminating in a total of 3,155 reviews. After extensive analysis by QNRF, 145 proposals were awarded.
In this 4th cycle, 14 submitting institutions from Qatar in collaboration with 134 international research institutions from 25 countries, were awarded US$121M - an increase of 7% over the 3rd cycle awards.
Selected researchers for the fourth cycle represent 14 Qatar-based institutions and 134 collaborative international research institutions from 25 countries.
By funding such projects, NPRP aims to build upon human capital in Qatar and benefit the nation, region, and world through innovative research initiatives.
"We are very lucky, because we live in a time and place where we can watch the landscape of scientific research transform and develop in the right direction, thanks to Qatar s vision, its momentum, and commitment to the advocacy of knowledge and technology transfer at the highest level," said Dr. Amer Al-Saadi, Advisor Research, Qatar Foundation, during his keynote address.
"The State of Qatar represents a shield which protects the march of scientific progress from the effects of the economic downturn. And this progress will be continual, because QNRF is transitioning into new stages across its various projects," he said.(QNA)