Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre hosted the inaugural session of a series of workshops to enhance Qatar’s national research and development (R&D) capacity for the energy industry, a press statement said.
Known as the ‘Qatar Shell Dialogues’ the inaugural event engaged prominent thought leaders from the industry, government and academia in a focused dialogue to generate recommendations on how the energy industry can help bolster Qatar’s national research and development (R&D) capacity.
The discussion drew more than 60 participants, including Faisal Al Suwaidi, President of Research & Development at Qatar Foundation; senior Shell officials as well as representatives of major industry and academic institutions, such as Qatar Petroleum, Qatar University and Texas A&M University at Qatar.
Al Suwaidi said: “Forums such as the Qatar Shell Dialogues” represent a significant contribution to building bridges between R&D and industry that can lead to improved knowledge transfer in support of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. The energy industry has a vital role to play to help shape the future of R&D in Qatar. I am encouraged by the fruitful discussions and constructive interactions and believe that we can cooperate closer together to achieve the ambitions of the Qatar National Research Strategy.”
Managing Director and Chairman of Shell Qatar, Wael Sawan, said: “Shell is pleased to be able to promote thought-provoking dialogues to help inspire solutions to the critical challenges of building a knowledge economy. Our world-class R&D facility at the Qatar Science & Technology Park is an ideal venue to discuss how the energy industry can support Qatar in building the national capacity required to establish a research and development hub.”
General Manager of Qatar Shell’s Research & Technology Centre, Youssif Saleh, stressed that Qatar’s quest to become a global R&D hub for the energy industry is on the right track but should be accompanied by a string of initiatives aimed at building national capacity.”
As part of a real-time electronic survey during the event, 52 percent of the participants confirmed that the energy industry’s most important contribution to promoting R&D is to charter a clear career path for talented Qatari R&D professionals into senior management. An overwhelming 83 percent of participants view the development of PhD programmes in Qatar as a prerequisite for building local R&D capacity. Up to 58 percent of participants thought Qatar had laid the right foundations for building a local energy R&D hub in the country.
Source :
Qatar Chronicle
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