NRF Research Funding programs

Dr Ahmed AlosiResearch Program Manager

13 December , 2012

About NRFEstablished on Friday, March 7th, 2008 by his Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific ResearchVisionTo support world-class research activities and create an internationally competitive research environment and national innovation system in the United Arab EmiratesMissionTo build an internationally competitive research capacity for the economic and social development of the United Arab Emirates

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Main ObjectivesNRF 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.

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Key Stakeholders3 Federal Institutions• UAEU• Zayed University • HCT

CAA Accredited Institutions• 73 heterogeneous “Private” universities

& colleges4

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

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What have we done so Far?Competitions

2008 / 2009

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Number of applications

RSA 2009REC 2008

Programs Number of applications Winners Amount

Awarded

RSA 2009 (CAA) 758 19 200,000 AED

REC 2008 (Federal institutions) 18 4 vary

RSA 2009 Domain Summary

1.2 Computer and information sciences 1.4 Chemical sciences1.5 Earth and related Environmental sciences

1.6 Biological sciences (Medical, Agricul-tural)

2.1 Civil engineering 2.5 Materials engineering2.7 Environmental engineering 4.4 Agricultural biotechnology5.1 Psychology 5.2 Economics and Business5.3 Educational sciences 5.4 Sociology5.8 Media and communications 5.9 Other social sciences

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 -RSAUniversity of Sharjah Masdar Institute

American University of Sharjah Zayed University

Completed Competitions

10

EFRMA 2011YEPRSMA 2011YERP 2011YEIP 2011PFA 2011UIRCA 2011

Programs Winners

Emirati Faculty Research Mobility Award (EFRMA) 5

Young Emirati Postgraduate Research Students Mobility Award (YEPRSMA) 1

Young Emirati Researchers Prize (YERP) 13

Young Emirati Innovators Prize (YEIP ) 3

Patent Filing Award (PFA) 3

University Industrial Collaboration Award (UIRCA) 11

UIRCA Domain Summary

1.2 Computer and Information Sciences

1.4 Chemical Sciences

1.5 Earth and related Envi-ronmental Sciences

1.6 Biological Sciences (Medical, Agricultural)

2.2 Electrical engineering, Elec-tronic engineering, Information engineering

2.3 Mechanical engineering

2.6 Medical engineering 3.4 Health biotechnology5.2 Economics and Business

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 AlsafarDesign 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 MohamedNano 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. AminIntroducing 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-StudiesCompetitiveness of the UAE

•Dr. Jay Squalli- AUS and ZU

An Insight into the Aspirations of Young EmiratesDr 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 UnemployedDr. Mouawiya Al Awad- ZU

Educational aspirations and expectations of Emirati secondary school students Dr. Kenneth Carr ZU

An Analysis of Health Status of the UAEProfessor Tar-Ching Aw- UAEU

Social Networks and National PrideDr. Simon Jones- HCT

Grants Managements-Outline

International Best PracticeCompetitions ProcessElectronic Management SystemCurrent/Past Competitions

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International Best Practice

Competitive bases Awards and GrantsCall documents are tailored and designed with clear guidelinesInternational experts (Reviewers/Panelists)

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Process

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

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

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Call is

issued

EOI/Pre-Proposal/Full

Proposal received

through

online

portal

Proposals evaluated by

Panel/External

Reviewers throu

gh onlin

e porta

l

Winners

Selected and

informed

Award &

Contract is issue

d

Award is followed with

Progress

Report

(till award is

closed)

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.

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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)

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UAEU-NRF Grants cycle III-2012

26

34

28

13

18

7

1. Natural Sciences2. Engineering and Technology3. Medical and Health Sciences4. Agricultural Sciences5. Social Sciences6. Humanities

Proposals 144Researchers 310

Reviewers 350

Time 6 weeks

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 UAE21