MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is making dedicated efforts to support research and innovation, which has positively reflected in its advancement by 10 positions in the Global Innovation Index (GII) issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over four years — rising from 84th to 74th place. Additionally, Oman improved its ranking in innovation outputs by 23 spots, moving from 109th to 86th.
Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Research and Innovation, affirmed that the recent commendation by the World Bank for Oman Vision 2040 — which places significant emphasis on human capital development, education quality enhancement, and fostering a culture of research and innovation — reflects the concerted efforts of all relevant stakeholders working diligently to achieve the vision’s goals.
He explained that the innovation index is one of the most critical indicators as it influences competitiveness and other key metrics. The index is measured by WIPO, drawing data from the World Bank, Unesco and 13 other global institutions.
At the national level, he noted, the index is measured through infrastructure and digital framework programmes. This includes research centres such as the Muscat Innovation Complex as an established infrastructure, as well as Oman Research and Education Network, which covers nearly 99% of institutions and connects all universities and colleges in Oman, offering over 23 services.
He highlighted the development of digital infrastructure through Oman Research Portal, an integrated digital platform managing research programmes — evaluating, funding and tracking their performance. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a research equipment platform cataloguing and classifying research tools used by academics, industrial institutions and other stakeholders. - ONA
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