Qatar Foundation Research and Development announces the Annual Research Conference 2013

Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D) has announced that its flagship scientific conference will be held in  November this year, inviting the local and international research community to address Qatar’s research grand challenges, ranging from water security to cyber security.

The Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference (QF-ARC) 2013 will take place in Doha from 24 to 25 November, under the theme “Qatar’s Cross-cutting Research Grand Challenges.” It is the keystone event for research and development in Qatar and, this year, follows on from a series of high-level engagements with academia, government, industry and research institutes across the country to identify the grand challenges fundamental to implementing the Qatar National Research Strategy.

“This conference builds upon nationwide efforts to advance Qatar’s ambitious research agenda, and provides a unique platform to activate the multidisciplinary collaboration needed to tackle the most pressing national challenges in research. We must also ensure that Qatar’s resources are being used wisely to solve real issues that affect Qatar, the region and the world,” said Faisal M. Alsuwaidi, President of Research and Development at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

Formerly known as the Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum, the conference was inaugurated in 2010 as a venue to support and highlight Qatar’s research capabilities and further the country’s vision to become a leading international centre for research and development excellence and innovation. The conference brings together researchers and leaders from Qatar, as well as speakers from prominent science and research institutions worldwide, to discuss and debate latest developments, transfer knowledge, and build relationships for future collaboration. It also aims to connect the international research community with Qatar’s research grand challenges, and to advance QF R&D’s objectives towards developing and implementing solutions.

QF-ARC will focus on pressing research challenges, including protecting Qatar’s cyber infrastructure, water reuse and desalination, developing and deploying solar energy solutions, ensuring sustainable food supply, sustainable urbanization, mobility and road safety, human capacity development, integrated health management systems,  and supporting Arabic culture, arts, heritage, media and language.

QF R&D is home to Qatar National Research Fund, Qatar Science &Technology Park, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Qatar Computing Research Institute and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute.

The Annual Research Conference is a QF R&D initiative, rooted in the State of Qatar’s national strategy to foster a community of research excellence and world-class education. The 2013 conference will recognize the best research presentations and posters within the four thematic pillars outlined in the Qatar National Research Strategy –energy and environment, computing and information technologies, health, and social sciences, arts and humanities.

The two-day conference will engage international and local experts through a series of presentations and parallel panel discussions within each thematic pillar. Interactive debates amongst the experts are a new feature and highlight of the conference. They will aim at drawing out the challenges within each pillar and exchanging opinions on the best ways to move forward through research. A gala dinner will conclude the conference, with an awards ceremony and review of the conference proceedings on the evening of 25 November.