HH Sheikha Moza attends the opening of QF Annual Research Forum

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development patronized this  evening the opening ceremony of the Second Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum at Qatar National Convention Center. The opening session was attended by a number of their excellencies Sheikhs and Ministers as well as numerous scientists and researchers.

In a speech during the opening session, QF's Vice President for Research Dr. Abdelali Haoudi highlighted the importance of the Second Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum, saying it has become a national forum that brings together the entire research community in Qatar. He said this year's forum is held under the theme of "the globalization of research," adding that Qatar Foundation has been working since its inception in 1995 to promote science and research based on strong educational foundations and on different areas of research including translation, basic research and bioresearch.

The establishment of Qatar Science and Technology Park, and the three national research centers under Qatar Foundation: Qatar Computing Research Institute, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute as well as Sidra Medical and Research Center, which will be opened in the coming months, are an attempt to attract scientists and research institutes to work with Qatar Foundation and have mutual interaction with each other to serve research locally and globally, the Vice President said. Dr. Haoudi underscored the attention attached by Qatar not only to establishing a base for scientific research, but also to the sustainability of this sector, which would not have been possible without the strong commitment by the State of Qatar and its allocation of 8.2 percent of GDP for research. 

The QF's Vice-President of Research also reviewed the efforts undertaken by Qatar Foundation in the field of building national capacity, referring in this context to Qatar Science Leadership Program, an initiative sponsored by Qatar National Research Fund. He said Qatar is now focusing on research in the fields of computer, energy and biomedical research as well as in social sciences and arts. On the medium term Qatar hopes to become a manufacturer for research and science and not just an importer to them, he added.  Qatar Foundation's Second Annual Research Forum brings together an anticipated 1,500 research experts, renowned scientists and young scientists from around the world to exchange knowledge and build partnerships for the advancement of research globally.