Manama: Ways that allow decision makers to enable scientific advances globally through international engagement and investment in both real and virtual resources will be discussed on Sunday at a forum in Doha on the globalization and democratization of research.
The discussion will be among the topics to be taken up at the Qatar Foundation's Second Annual Research Forum that brings together around 1,500 research experts, renowned scientists and young scientists from around the world.
This year's Forum, on November 20-22 allows for all countries to benefit from the innovations of science and technology, organisers said.
"For any country to take its place in the world and thrive in a globally competitive marketplace, it must offer value to that global community," Dr. Abdelali Haoudi, Vice President for Research at Qatar Foundation, said.
"Qatar is committed to becoming a force for global change and development, especially in the fields of science, technology and innovation," he said.
Dr. Richard Klausner, Managing Partner, The Column Group and former Director of the National Cancer Institute, will lead the opening panel on the globalization of research.
"This panel will explore ways in which we can implement Her Highness' vision of globalized research," Klausner said. "We talk a lot about how the world has become a global village, and we need to use this as a facility to allow people in developing countries to innovate now, while awaiting the building of scientific infrastructures that can take years."
The Annual Research Forum represents Qatar's commitment to becoming a centre of knowledge, underpinned by a strong research culture that will position Qatar as a leader in its key fields of interest, organisers said in an email to Gulf News.
Shaikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is expected to participate in the Forum.
The programme for this year's Forum includes keynote speakers and panelists who include government ministers and officials, Nobel laureates and renowned scientists.
Many of the Forum's sessions over the three days will touch on the themes of globalization, stimulating research development and enabling access to information and knowledge in developing countries.
The Forum features sessions that will discuss the research progress and achievements taking place at the three national research centers under Qatar Foundation: Qatar Computing Research Institute, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute. Also scheduled are parallel sessions and workshops on research in the fields of biomedicine, computing, arts, humanities, social sciences, and Islamic studies research.
In conjunction with the Annual Research Forum, Qatar Foundation's Arab Expatriate Scientists Network has organized the Arab Expatriate Scientists Symposium (AESS). Eighty scientists who left their home countries in the Middle East to study abroad and secure jobs overseas met on the first day of the symposium. Discussions covered increased collaboration on projects, as well as enabling the integration of Arab scientists into the renaissance of science in the Arab world.
