Future Challenges in Scientific Research

The UAE is the first Arab country to spend 1.5 percent of its GDP on scientific research, thanks to the wise government.

The following suggestions may help this movement meet the challenges of the future:

1. Legislating scientific research to encourage the movement of applied scientific research between government agencies and universities instead of relying entirely on consulting companies that provide industrial solutions without transferring or localizing knowledge with exaggerated prices.

2. Activating the centralization of scientific research so that it plays a pivotal role and brings together all scientific research efforts, whether at the federal or local level, in local or private sectors, there are duplicate and scattered efforts and initiatives that we can contain in one system.

3. Involving the private sector in scientific research is the most important initiative that will contribute to the development of scientific research and turn it into an effective element in the knowledge economy, and the saying from the laboratory to the market will be realized and applied on the ground.

4. Increase scientific research awards
and do not limit them only to academic institutions. The UAE is characterized by distinguished local awards such as the Scientific Research Medal from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Scientists Complex and more recently the Arab Nawabagh Award at the Arab level.

The existence of other awards that include the industrial sectors in scientific research in various disciplines and the UAE will enhance the movement of applied research with knowledge production.

5. Promoting the culture of knowledge endowment by encouraging businessmen, citizens and residents to contribute to the work of knowledge endowment.

Prof. Dr. Ghanem Keshwani
July 2023