NRF Research Funding programs Dr Ahmed Alosi Research

NRF Research Funding programs Dr Ahmed Alosi Research Program Manager 13 December , 2012

About NRF Established on Friday, March 7 th, 2008 by his Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research 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 2 Emirates

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. 5

What have we done so Far? Competitions 2008 / 2009 Programs RSA 2009 (CAA) REC 2008 (Federal institutions) Number of Winners applications 758 19 Amount Awarded 200, 000 AED Number of applications RSA 2009 REC 2008 18 4 vary 6

1. 2 Computer and information sciences RSA 2009 Domain Summary 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 5. 2 Economics and Business 5. 3 Educational sciences 5. 4 Sociology 5. 8 Media and communications

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

Research Visit -RSA University of Sharjah American University of Sharjah Masdar Institute Zayed University

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

1. 2 Computer and Information Sciences UIRCA Domain Summary 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 2. 3 Mechanical engineering 2. 6 Medical 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 Materials. Dr. 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

Process Proposal Submission • Two+ stage submissions (Preproposal, 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 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

Competition’s Lifecycle Call is issued 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 Micro. Edge 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 18 in United Kingdom and in Australia.

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 Socioeconomic Development (Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman) 19

UAEU-NRF Grants cycle III-2012 7 Proposals 144 Researchers 310 Reviewers Time 1. Natural Sciences 26 18 2. Engineering and Technology 350 6 weeks 3. Medical and Health Sciences 13 4. Agricultural Sciences 34 28 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