NRF Research Funding programs

Dr Ahmed Alosi Research Program Manager 13 December , 2012

About NRF

Established on Friday, March 7 Scientific Research th , 2008 by his Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education &

Vision

To support world-class research activities and create an internationally competitive research environment and national innovation system in the United Arab Emirates

Mission

To build an internationally competitive research capacity for the economic and social development of the United Arab Emirates 2

Main Objectives

NRF was created to undertake the following Functions • Raise awareness in the country of the important role that R&D plays in helping to build a competitive knowledge economy.

• Promote and expand R&D in the country • • Universities and colleges, Industry, & Government • University/Industry Collaboration Provide funding for research projects on a competitive basis.

3

Key Stakeholders

3 Federal Institutions

• UAEU • Zayed University • HCT

CAA Accredited Institutions

• 73 heterogeneous “Private” universities & colleges 4

Current/Past Competitions

NRF • • Research Excellence Centers (REC) Research and Scholarship Awards (RSA) UAEU Research Grant Program 2011 • Implementation (Submissions & Review) prepared using NRF’s Microedge System • Sourcing the reviewers from NRF’s pool of international experts. • Pre/Post evaluated of pre-proposal and full proposals.

• Final Recommendations 5

What have we done so Far?

Competitions

2008 / 2009

Programs Number of applications Winners Amount Awarded Number of applications

RSA 2009 (CAA) REC 2008 (Federal institutions) 758 18 19 200,000 AED 4 vary RSA 2009 REC 2008 6

RSA 2009 Domain Summary

1.2 Computer and information sciences 1.4 Chemical sciences 1.5 Earth and related Environmental sciences 1.6 Biological sciences (Medical, Agricultural) 2.1 Civil engineering 2.5 Materials engineering 2.7 Environmental engineering 4.4 Agricultural biotechnology 5.1 Psychology

Research and Scholar Award (RSA)

Novel approaches toward the discovery of drugs for the treatment of Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer , Dr. Taleb Al-Tel Development of functional nanocomposite materials to harvest fresh water from humid atmosphere, Dr. Raed Hashaikeh, Product development. Development of a Satellite-Based Tool to Forecast and Monitor Fog Events in UAE Coastal Cities Using, Dr Hosni Ghedira Understanding family businesses in UAE through an evolutionary perspective , Dr. Virginia Bodolica The Emirates Internet Project , Dr. ILHEM ALLAGUI EXPLOITING TREEBANK RESOURCES FOR EXTENDING A RULE-BASED ARABIC PARSER COVERAGE, Dr. Khaled Shaalan Theoretical and technological innovation in the identification and exploration of Depression, Dr. Justin Thomas Governance of Temporary Labor Migration: A Case Study of the UAE, HABIBUL KHONDKER.

The UAE Family Under Global Transformation, Dr. Rima Sabban.

Sustainable management of the indigenous Ghaf tree: understanding population composition, reproduction, Dr. David Gallacher

University of Sharjah

Research Visit -RSA

Masdar Institute American University of Sharjah Zayed University

Completed Competitions

Programs

Emirati Faculty Research Mobility Award (EFRMA)

Winners

5 Young Emirati Postgraduate Research Students Mobility Award (YEPRSMA) 1 Young Emirati Researchers Prize (YERP) Young Emirati Innovators Prize (YEIP ) Patent Filing Award (PFA) University Industrial Collaboration Award (UIRCA) 13 3 3 11 EFRMA 2011 YEPRSMA 2011 YERP 2011 YEIP 2011 PFA 2011 UIRCA 2011 10

UIRCA Domain Summary

1.2 Computer and Information Sciences 1.4 Chemical Sciences 1.5 Earth and related Environmental Sciences 1.6 Biological Sciences (Medical, Agricultural) 2.2 Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering

UIRCA Funded Projects

Identification of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes (Type 2) Induced Cardiovascular Disease in the UAE Arab Population, Dr. Habiba Alsafar Design and Implementation of a Grading System for Assessing Posterior Capsule Opacifiaction using Medical Digital Images,Dr. Naoufel Werghi An Integrated Approach to Enhance National Strategic Groundwater Reserves via Managed Aquifer Recharge of Recycled Water, Dr. Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Nano Lab on a Chip for Virus Detection, Dr. Mahmoud Al Ahmad Glycomic Screen for Novel Molecular Therapeutic Targets: Insights into Saffron's Protection against Liver Cancer, Dr. Amr A. Amin Introducing safranal-based nanoparticles as a novel biodegradable anti-cancer drug using supercritical fluid technology,Dr. Ali Al-Marzouqi A Wireless Charging Infrastructure for Future Electric Cars in the UAE, Dr. Mohamed K. Watfa Effective User Participation for Information Systems Assimilation: A Multi-level Approach, Dr. Kathy Ning Shen Ozone Observations and their Analysis with Circulation Models,Dr. Tariq Majeed, Machinability Analysis of Difficult to cut MaterialsDr. Ibrahim Deiab, Assessment of Forage Productivity and Carrying Capacity of Dubai Deserts rangelands: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve as a case study, Dr. Ali El-Keblawy

Hot Topics-Studies

Competitiveness of the UAE •Dr. Jay Squalli- AUS and ZU An Insight into the Aspirations of Young Emirates Dr Nasr Arif- ZU Justice System experiences of young Emiratis, Dr. Robert Villa-UAEU Labor Market Behavior and Characteristics of Emirati Unemployed With Special Emphasis on Young Unemployed Dr. Mouawiya Al Awad- ZU Educational aspirations and expectations of Emirati secondary school students Dr. Kenneth Carr ZU An Analysis of Health Status of the UAE Professor Tar-Ching Aw- UAEU Social Networks and National Pride Dr. Simon Jones- HCT

Grants Managements-Outline

International Best Practice Competitions Process Electronic Management System Current/Past Competitions

14

International Best Practice

Competitive bases Awards and Grants Call documents are tailored and designed with clear guidelines International experts (Reviewers/Panelists)

15

Proposal Submission • Two+ stage submissions (Pre proposal, Full proposal) • Internal pre-evaluation • Hard Deadlines • Advantage of 2 stage is to outsource the right reviewer • Feedback is provided at every stage • Frascati Domains Classification

Process

Review • International Experts • USA, Canada, Australia and Europe. • These experts are all researchers of international standing, experienced in grant proposal evaluation • Panel Reviewers • Postal Reviewers (min 2 per proposal) 16

Call is issued

Competition’s Lifecycle

EOI/Pre Proposal/ Full Proposal received through online portal Proposals evaluated by Panel/Ext ernal Reviewer s through online portal Winners Selected and informed Award & Contract is issued Award is followed with Progress Report (till award is closed) 17

Electronic Management System

MicroEdge Grant Management software • All submissions & reviews are received through an online portal and managed and stored in a central database • Off shelf product that NRF uses in managing its proposal life cycle. • Microedge services to foundations, corporations, government agencies, donors, advisors and financial institutions. • The company is based in New York, with regional offices in United Kingdom and in Australia.

18

What have we done so Far?

Consultancy Services • Grant Management for UAEU (138 proposals Cycle II)-2011 • Grant Management For UAEU ( 144 proposals Cycle III) 2012 Workshops • • NRF Public Awareness Workshops Technology Transfer Workshops • IP Protection and IP Law (IBM ) • Science, Technology and Innovation--- Imperatives for Socio economic Development (Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman) 19

UAEU-NRF Grants cycle III-2012

Proposals 144 Researchers 310 Reviewers 350 Time 6 weeks 13 18 7 28 26 34 1. Natural Sciences 2. Engineering and Technology 3. Medical and Health Sciences 4. Agricultural Sciences 5. Social Sciences 6. Humanities

What is Next?

NRF will continue to

• Build an internationally competitive National Innovation System • Promote Intellectual Property (IP) • Build R&D Capacities • Explore new local and international channels for research collaboration • Build a Hub of R&D Resources and Knowledge for the UAE 21