ABU DHABI // Large companies should have to put money towards improving national research and development, said businessmen, officials and academics yesterday.
Sami Issa, the executive director of technology development at the state-owned Advanced Technology Investment Company (Atic), said a tax whereby industry matched Government contributions was the only way to move the country forward.
"It should be mandated that money is put into research and development," he said. "Industry must set aside money. As the Government sets money aside, industry must put the same aside to create the research and education ecosystem needed."
Mr Issa believes companies should give at least 0.1 or 0.2 per cent of their profit to research and development.
"With this kind of policy, which will be in place for years to come, you incentivise the bright minds and the best talent to come here, to bring others with them."
Mr Issa cited Singapore, where the government spends 1 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on research and development. The UAE spends 0.3 per cent.
On top of government spending, Singapore's private sector gives a further 2.5 per cent of its profits to research and development.
Mr Issa admitted such a policy might not be popular with everyone, but said that key industries were already on side.
"Aerospace, nuclear, health care are all quite supportive of building something here, as much as we are, so there will come a philosophy that everybody sticks to," he said.
Atic has led the way in supporting manpower development and research, calling on universities to compete to run a centre of excellence in the capital.
In the past two years it has funded professorships for about 20 semiconductor specialists at UAE University, Khalifa University and the Masdar Institute. Over the last two-and-a-half years, the company has sponsored more than 200 Emirati students.
Rafik Maki, head of strategy at Abu Dhabi Education Council, said large companies such as IBM and Microsoft had a responsibility to "give back".
"Spend something in terms of supporting research and development in the UAE, even 0.1 per cent [of GDP]," he said yesterday, at a forum on the economic impact of research and development. "These people need to give back."
Dr Mohammed Al Mualla, interim provost at Khalifa University, used the example of the ICT Fund, a funding body focused on research into computing technology.
"It's not like it hasn't been done before," he said. "The ICT Fund gets its money from the technology operators here. That then goes to support research and development in the ICT sector. It can be done for others."
Dr Al Mualla believes setting up more government-supported funding bodies would "encourage industry to match this investment".
Between 1995 and 2010, UAE researchers published 6,572 papers, compared with 42,132 from the University of California, Berkeley, and 20,179 from Moscow State University.
"In terms of research funding we agree that output isn't where it needs to be, but there is very little support for funding," Mr Maki said. "We in Government need to improve the funding of research dramatically from where we are today. The UAE's research output is growing at a lower rate than other similarly sized developed countries."
Speaking at the forum, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said: "Until now ... few resources in the UAE have been devoted to research. But it is not simply a matter of resources.
"There has been little research conducted by or for Government or private industry ... there is not enough public awareness of the value of research and its importance to our future."
He added that support in successful knowledge-based economies comes not just from the government, but from business, industry and corporations - the "commercial stakeholders that inevitably benefit from operating in a culture of research and innovation".
mswan@thenational.ae
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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UAE%20SQUAD
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More on animal trafficking
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
Indika
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