Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), part of Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D), has launched a re-engineered version of its flagship funding programme, the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP), as an enhanced two-track model designed to address Qatar’s research priorities.

Now in its 11th annual cycle, the NPRP has evolved to become a mission-driven support mechanism for research projects that aim to produce solutions to Qatar’s foremost challenges, and target ‘hotspot’ areas that hold the greatest opportunity for the nation to gain a comparative advantage through its research and innovation efforts.

By introducing a new twin concept of clustered and standard models – respectively known as NPRP-C and NPRP-S – for the programme’s latest cycle, QNRF is placing greater emphasis on enabling research projects that demonstrate the potential to generate tangible economic benefit for Qatar, without compromising scientific excellence or the advancement of knowledge. The call for the submission of proposals for NPRP 11 is now open, with those that succeed to be awarded during 2018.

The structure of the research teams supported under NPRP-C has been upgraded to allow multiple sub-projects, each with its own Lead Principal Investigator, to be clustered together and steered by a Program Director. Such projects will address themes like carbon capture and utilization, the prediction, early diagnosis, and prevention of diabetes, and the development of a cyber-resilient financial technology sector, in a holistic manner.

Meanwhile, NPRP-S proposals will follow the standard model, namely single projects with one Lead Principal Investigator to focus on pre-determined priority themes within the areas of energy and environment; information and communications technology; biomedical and health; and social sciences, arts, and humanities.

To raise awareness among Qatar’s research community on the newly restructured NPRP 11th cycle, QNRF held two information sessions. These events emphasised how the NPRP has been designed to stimulate collaborations between research institutions and their commercial research partners, to promote a culture of public-private partnership in Qatar and achieve a successful translation of the research outcomes.

For those who could not attend, QNRF will hold two NPRP webinars on 24 and 25 November  2017. Those wishing to participate should register here.