Seminar to assess growth in scientific research
MUSCAT: The Innovation Policy Symposium, organised by The Research Council (TRC) in collaboration with the British Council, started at Crowne Plaza Muscat Hotel on Monday under the auspices of HH Sayyid Taimur bin Asaad al Said.
The two-day symposium aims at empowerment and development of institutional and social innovation at the GCC States.
The first day included three sessions. The first session tilted ‘Innovation and Ecosystems’ was moderated by Dr Rahma al Mahrouqiyah from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). The second session titled ‘ Innovation Smart Technology’ was moderated by Dr Saif al Hadabi, Assistant Secretary-General for Programmes and Scientific Researches at TRC.
Sayyid Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda al Said, Assistant Secretary-General for Innovation Development at TRC, said in a statement that the symposium is an initiative of TRC in cooperation with the British Council in Muscat, Gulf Programme for Innovation and Knowledge Economy in UK.
He added that the symposium covers the scientific research ecosystems and regulations, the future smart technologies, the future cities and innovation sustainability. He also pointed out that the seminar will provide updates about innovation initiatives in advanced countries.
It will also provide an opportunity to evaluate the progress made in scientific research and innovation, which may provide ideal solutions for many challenges and problems facing the society.
Dr Saleh Mohammed al Ghamdi from King Abdullah International Centre for Scientific Research said in a statement that youth in the Gulf states have many pioneering ideas and can keep pace with modern development if they are nurtured and provided with the conducive milieu.
In the same context, Paul Hilder, Director of British Council in Muscat, said in a statement to ONA that the British Council in the Gulf region is based on scientific research and innovation projects and today we are opening the project in Muscat.
He pointed out that there are series of scientific projects at which researches from all Gulf States and UK join hands to share information, knowledge and expertise.
The symposium, which is the first of its kind on the level of Arabian Gulf, seeks to provide the GCC decision makers and academicians with the opportunity to share experiences with innovation policy makers and innovation centres’ leaders in the UK.
A number of scientific research and innovations centres and institutions in the Sultanate and other GCC States are taking part in the symposium.