Sharjah 24 – WAM: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Emirates Research and Development Council (ERDC), presided over the first meeting of the Council, and directed it to commence defining the national priorities for research and development in the country to enhance its contribution to the sustainable economic growth of the UAE, and support the advancement of the country’s strategic sectors.

In that regard, Sheikh Abdullah emphasised the importance of collaboration between the government, private and academic sectors to unlock the potential of research, development and commercialisation across different fields.

Sheikh Abdullah added that the Council will serve as the cornerstone of the UAE’s research and development ecosystem, enhancing alignment amongst the federal government, local governments, the private sector and academia, and channelling their efforts towards developing solutions to challenges and realising the nation’s vision.

He added that the impact of the Council will not be limited to the national level, as it will also be an active actor in the integration and participation of the UAE in the global science and technology ecosystem.

He also stressed on the importance of research and development to the nation over the next 50 years, which underlies our knowledge-based economy, and supports the aspirations of the country.

Sheikh Abdullah continued: "Today, we are meeting to affirm the encompassing contribution of research and development and its ability to develop the main sectors in the country. The Council is the nation’s highest authority for research and development, and we will build on the efforts that have been achieved in order to strengthen the UAE’s research and development capabilities."

The Council approved the approach to be followed in developing the national priorities, with a broad focus on the entire spectrum of research, from fundamental research through to commercialisation.

The council will also focus on key pillars of the ecosystem, highlighting the importance of fostering the national intellectual capital, developing the necessary funding models, and fostering collaborations to embed research and development as one of the key pillars of growth for the nation.

The Council will also work on increasing the impact of research outputs, and placing the necessary mechanisms to deploy research outcomes across the targeted areas.

The Council will also review current federal research spending and the scope of work of existing funds, to measure their outcomes and impact across the sectors of interest.

The Council acknowledged the importance of a sustained source of funding, a focus on directed research, and an emphasis on the role that basic science plays in creating a robust R&D ecosystem.

The Council is also working very closely with the UAE’s private sector and the science community to address current regulations and policies that enable the deployment of research outcomes.

The council aims to attract and diversify funding sources for research programmes and institutions in the country to ensure the activation and sustainability of the R&D agenda and its commercial and industrial enablement.