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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Research in Sultanate gets a big boost

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MUSCAT: The rapid changes seen around the world has made innovation today a basis for development and means of addressing new challenges. It is necessary to integrate the efforts made by the government and the private sector to cooperate in finding solutions to various local and regional issues.


From this point of view, the OCCI Award for Innovation was established with the support of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday with The Research Council (TRC) to create and manage the award.


The MoU was signed by Said bin Saleh al Kiyumi, OCCI Chairman, while it was signed from the council’s side by Dr Hilal bin Ali al Hinai, Secretary-General of TRC.


Also present at the ceremony were officials from the OCCI and the council, businessmen and officials concerned with scientific research and business in the Sultanate. Speaking on the occasion, the OCCI chairman said that the idea of the award stemmed from The Research Council and was then adopted by chamber. The award supports the role of innovation as it is considered a renewal for economic life in general, as well as coping with rapid growth. The secretary-general said that efforts are being made by several authorities concerned to make the Sultanate a country which supports and stimulates innovation.


The MoU text states that the OCCI along with The Research Council will create and manage the award by holding a competition once in every two years to support innovation and to encourage national skills. The first edition will be launched this month.


The award is aimed at promoting innovation, spreading its culture in Oman, encourage researchers and innovators to exhibit their innovative and research activities in various fields at local and international levels. The competition also targets to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the government and the private sector establishments, and academic institutions to find out innovative solutions in scientific and technical fields.


It also aims to support, safeguard and adopt the innovative ideas to convert them into products that can be marketed and implemented on ground to open job opportunities for aspiring young people.


The award also aims at implementing a programme to support a national award that encourages Omani youth to develop their innovative skills and guide them to go ahead with their ideas and develop products that offer innovative solutions though modern ways.


Moreover, to provide financial support for the innovators to develop their ideas to transform them to products capable of competing in local and international markets. A database of Omani innovators will be created for future reference and this will help in developing ideas that meet local and international requirements. — ONA


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