Objective
Under some circumstances, the QNRF will partner with a university, firm, or individual to pursue applied research in a particularly promising area with a goal of commercialization. In these cases, the QNRF will often seek joint funding with these parties to share the risk of failure and the reward of success. The QNRF might use a cooperative agreement rather than a grant to support such activities.
Description
This activity would fund in whole or in part innovative enterprises and related research proposed by someone doing business in Qatar, based entirely on their initiative (as opposed to responding to RFPs). It is anticipated that most proposals will come from those associated with Education City, the public or private sector in Qatar, including tenants in the Science and Technology Park, or Qatar University. But anyone in Qatar with a good proposal—one that has some prospect of leading to self-sustaining activity—will be considered for support from this activity of the QNRF. Each project, however, would require at least one Qatari partner. These projects would be in addition to those funded through the National Priorities Research Program. A recipient of a National Priorities Research grant also could apply for one of these joint venture agreements.
The following criteria will be used for initial evaluation of projects:
Strength of the Scientific/Technical Approach: This criterion would be evidenced by (1) the technical merit and creative content of the idea and the approach, (2) the significance of the scientific or technical challenge, and (3) the thoroughness of the presentation.
Ability to Carry Out the Project in a Cost Effective Manner. This criterion would be evidenced by (1) the qualifications of the Principal Investigator, other key staff, and consultants, if any, and the level of adequacy of equipment and facilities; (2) the soundness and level of adequacy of the work plan to show progress toward proving the feasibility of the concept; and (3) the degree to which the QNRF investment in the project would be justified by the level of proposed research effort.
Impact would be evidenced by (1) the significance of the technical and/or economic benefits of the proposed work, if successful, (2) the likelihood that the proposed work could lead to a marketable product or process, and (3) the likelihood that the project could attract further development funding after QNRF support ends.
Because proposals for Joint Ventures are related to potential near-term business opportunities, the process for proposal review will be designed to protect confidential or proprietary information.
Responsiveness to Challenges
This activity requires explicit Qatari participation. The primary intent of that constraint is to provide continuity, in that the research needs to be strongly rooted in Qatar. Further, the research should address national needs, in that the intent of joint ventures is to conduct research that leads directly to new economic opportunities in Qatar that would not be attainable otherwise. Secondarily, such projects have the potential to promote collaboration between the academe and the private sector, and between Qataris and non-Qataris.
Potential Benefits
Successful joint ventures in innovative concepts will lead to greater diversification of Qatar’s economic base. It also can nurture Qatar’s reputation as a nation that fosters technical innovation, entrepreneurship as well as excellent research. Such research may contribute to generating benefits for the entire economy, especially if advanced technologies and business practices are infused into the broader business sector.
