Survey finds increase in Qatari researchers, R&D expenditure

Thegross domestic expenditure on research & development (R&D) inQatar has gone up from 0.47% in 2012 to 0.51% in 2015, while the  numberof Qataris among the R&D personnel increased to 19.6% in 2015,against 13% in 2012, a recent survey has found. The R&D Surveyof Qatar 2015 was conducted by the Ministry of Development, Planning andStatistics (MDPS) and Qatar Foundation Research & Development (QFR&D). The  R&D personnel in the country has  gone up by55.4% from 3,038 in 2012 to 4,720 in 2015. The percentage of researchersamong total R&D personnel rose to 60%, from 57% in 2012.Qatarisrepresented the highest increase of researchers by nationality with theincrease being 23.8% in the government sector, and the highest increaseof supporting staff – 53.5% in the higher education sector.Thefindings of the survey were released at an event organised by MDPS andQF R&D at Qatar National Convention Centre. The R&D Survey ofQatar 2015 is the second of its kind – the previous edition was in 2012.“Thefindings of the survey are immensely valuable in assessing Qatar’sresearch and development efforts,” said Dr Frans Van Den Boom, executivedirector, policy, planning and evaluation, QF R&D.Prof MichaelKhan, survey adviser, said: “Innovation is a key factor in the modernage and Qatar has it ‘embedded within everything we do’,” The surveyfindings were presented by Mohamed al-Muhannadi, director, Departmentof Population and Social Statistics, MDPS and Nada al-Olaqi, businessplanning and performance manager, QFR&D. The survey finds that the national resources cover R&D funding in Qatar by 98.14%.