Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is actively supporting research and innovation, resulting in a significant improvement in its position on the Global Innovation Index (GII), as issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Over the past four years, Oman has advanced from 84th to 74th place, and improved its ranking in innovation outputs from 109th to 86th.
According to Oman News Agency, Dr. Saif Abdullah Al Haddabi, Undersecretary for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, noted that the World Bank’s commendation of “Oman Vision 2040” highlights the country’s focus on human capital development, education quality enhancement, and fostering a culture of research and innovation. These efforts aim to secure Oman a spot among the top 40 countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2030 and among the top 20 by 2040.
Al Haddabi explained that the innovation index is crucial to “Oman Vision 2040,” influencing competitiveness and key metrics. The index’s measurement involves a collaboration of data from the World Bank, UNESCO, and 13 other global institutions. Nationally, the index is assessed through infrastructure and digital framework programs, including research centers like the Muscat Innovation Complex and the Oman Research and Education Network (OMREN), which connects nearly all educational institutions in the country.
The development of digital infrastructure plays a significant role, with the Oman Research Portal serving as an integrated digital platform managing research programs. Additionally, there are efforts to establish a research equipment platform to catalog tools used by academics and industrial institutions.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation supports scientific research through various programs, targeting academic, governmental, and industrial sectors. The Scientific Publishing Program tracks publications in scientific journals, enhancing Oman’s standing in the Global Innovation Index’s knowledge output metrics.
Since 2018, the Ministry has funded numerous research projects, including 2,228 under the Academic Sector Research Support Program and 74 under the Strategic Research Program for the government sector. The Industrial Sector’s “Ijada” Program has also supported 61 projects.
Al Haddabi highlighted that these initiatives and funding mechanisms collectively advance “Oman Vision 2040” objectives and elevate Oman’s global rankings. He outlined 13 capacity-building initiatives, including national competitions and international participation.
He also discussed the four pillars of the National Innovation Strategy: Knowledge-Based Economic Diversification, Human Capital, Institutional Integration, and Intellectual Property. Future plans include implementing structured strategies to support academic innovation and launching “Oman Innovates,” a national platform for innovation services.
In conclusion, Al Haddabi emphasized the media’s role in promoting a scientific and innovation culture, which is vital for nurturing future innovators and entrepreneurs. This is reflected in the growing awareness and participation in research and innovation activities across the nation.