Qatar National Research Fund

The Qatar Foundation (QF) established Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) in 2006 as part of its ongoing commitment to establish Qatar as a knowledge-based economy. QF views research as essential to national and regional growth, as the means to diversify the nation’s economy, enhance educational offerings and develop areas that affect the community, such as health and environment.

Qatar National Research Fund’s mission is to advance knowledge and education by supporting original, competitively selected research in all fields of sciences, with emphasis on, Energy and Environment, Computer Sciences and ICT, Health and Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities.

RESEARCH PROGRAMS

• National Priorities Research Program – Standard

  Focuses on meritorious research projects that demonstrate a potential impact on the development of Qatar’s society and economy.

• National Priorities Research Program - Cluster

  Aims to solve complex interdisciplinary research problems that require a holistic approach to be addressed. These areas require bigger teams and budget, and strategic management to steer the cluster and its subprojects towards achieving an impactful outcome.

• Smart Manufacturing – QNRF & TÜBİTAK Cooperation

  Aims to intensify cooperation between Turkish and Qatari participants in science and industry by means of academia, industry and research end user cooperation. The theme of the second cycle is ‘Smart Manufacturing.’

• Path towards Precision Medicine – QNRF & Qatar Genome Program Cooperation

  Aims to support and advance research and provide tailored medical treatment catering to the individual characteristics of each patient based on their genetic profile to improve care quality while reducing unnecessary diagnostic testing and therapies.

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience – QNRF & Belmont Forum Cooperation 

  Aims to accelerate delivery of the environmental research needed to remove critical barriers to sustainability by aligning and mobilizing international resources. 

• Food Security - QNRF & Ministry of Municipality & Environment Cooperation

  To enhance Food Security measures in Qatar through investing in applied research for the primary theme of “Local Food Production” and related secondary themes

• OSRA - QNRF & Doha International Family Institute Cooperation

  Encourages research on family cohesion, marriage and divorce, families at risk, parenthood, and social policy research related to families that contributes to the development of evidence-based policies and programs to promote the well-being of families.

• Education - QNRF & Ministry of Education & Higher Education Cooperation

  Supports high quality empirical work that addresses Qatar’s major educational challenges that would provide policymakers with evidence-based research and analysis on Qatar’s major educational challenges and contribute to developing programs and solutions in tackling Qatar’s educational challenges.

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

• Undergraduate Research Experience Program – QNRF & Shell Cooperation

  Promotes 'Learning by Doing' and 'Hands-On' mentorship activities as effective methods for undergraduate education. In addition to a research-based education, students will gain experience with team-based research collaboration with faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other undergraduates or research staff in Qatar.

• Graduate Sponsorship Research Award

  Supports outstanding graduate candidates by offering them competitive scholarships to undertake research-based graduate studies towards Master’s and Doctoral degrees at both local and international approved institutions.

• Postdoctoral Research Award

  Supports postdoctoral scholars to work within Qatar-based research groups located in areas of national priority as outlined in the Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS).

• Early Career Research Award

  Supports early career researchers to enable them to have an intensive career development focus in research, leading to their research independence and ability to apply for research grants to establish research programs in areas addressing Qatar’s R&D mission.

• High School Research Experience Program – QNRF & Ministry of Education & Higher Education Cooperation

  Aims to train students in research methodology and prepare them as potential future candidates for other QNRF programs.

• National Scientific Research Competition – QNRF & Ministry of Education & Higher Education Cooperation

  Aims to encourage all middle and secondary school students in Qatar to exploit school courses in knowledge production, creativity and problem solving.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

• Conference and Workshop Sponsorship Program

  Aims to connect researchers in Qatar to their peers and colleagues, both at home and abroad, by exposing researchers or students to new research directions, findings, and education techniques.

• Qatar-UK Research Networking Program – QNRF & British Council Cooperation

  Provides support to bring together a Qatar-UK bilateral cohort of early career researchers to take part in workshops focusing on building links for future collaboration and enhancing the researchers’ career opportunities.

• Best Representative Image of an Outcome

  Aims to encourage researchers to tap into their artistic side by using stimulating images and visuals to communicate the outcomes of their QNRF-funded research to a wider audience, including the general public.

• Technology Development Fund

  Provides gap funding for early-stage to further develop promising technologies to increase their commercialization potential.