Gulf Times – Research fund to get 2.8% of GDP

Qatar Foundation president Mohamed Fathy Saoud yesterday laid out a vision for the future of scientific research in Qatar, highlighting key developments and strategies which will allow the state to reach its goals.

Speaking at a Conference for Science Journalists in Doha, he said: “Over the next two years, we aim to bring on board 3,000 researchers, physicians and medical staff to manage and operate Sidra Medical and Research Centre, to become the first of its kind in the Middle East that offers highest quality medical care and education and research.”

Saoud said: “In Qatar, we have an important challenge to address. We are a small country and we know that the number of research workers and scientists who are homegrown will continue to be limited. And in order to reach some sort of a critical mass we have started to find ways and means of increasing that research workforce in order to achieve our dream. An important approach has been the Qatar National Research Fund.”