FOR more than a decade, the core policy of the government of Oman has been to diversify the country's economy. Now, under a newly unveiled draft strategy, that policy will be given a scientific approach. The Sultanate made a commitment to developing scientific research and technology as part of its Oman Vision 2020, the blueprint for the sustainable growth of the country laid out in 1995. The plan identified a close link between a country's per capita expenditure on research and development and per capita income and economic growth.
It specified that scientific research and development were primary elements in strategies for economic diversification. That commitment is currently being given form by Oman's Scientific Research Council (SRC), established in 2005, which is tasked with formulating a plan to advance research and technology in the Sultanate and put in place a comprehensive national plan to ensure the strategy is followed and expanded. The draft of the strategy developed was discussed at a conference that opened in Muscat on October 21.
The conference, brought together more than 500 local, regional and international experts to discuss the draft and identify further strengths and weaknesses in Oman's plans to develop itself as a science, research and technology hub. In particular, the strategy has identified a number of sectors that should be focused on for development. These include water, energy, downstream petrochemicals and agro-marine biotechnology research.
The SRC set up teams of experts to study a wide range of fields, taking in cultural and social sciences, education, human resource, industry, energy, information technology, health, social services, bio and environmental resources. These are seen as crucial to developing the council's strategic approach and applying it to the identified sectors and other areas of the economy.
One of the recommendations made in the draft strategy was that Oman establish free research zones, similar to free economic and trade zones, to attract investment and serve as centres for scientific and technological development. It also called for a direct link between industry and academia to ensure a transfer of technology and increased funding to boost the quantity and quality of research and innovation.
David W Chapman of the University of Minnesota, one of the international advisers on the strategy, said the draft reflected the government's commitment to economic diversity. "At a time when oil resources are declining, the higher education and research strategy represents an important step in establishing a knowledge-based Omani society that is less dependent on oil revenues and more dependent on the knowledge and skills of the Omani people," Chapman said in comments carried by local press on October 21. One area where Oman has much catching up to do if it wants to become a scientific powerhouse is higher education.
Musadik Malik, the vice-president of CRA International, the consultancy firm commissioned by the government to assist in drafting the strategy, told the conference that Oman has only one PhD programme and that of the 1,016 PhDs in the Sultanate, 70 per cent are expatriates.
Malik urged Oman to focus on a limited number of research activities, rather than spreading itself too wide, and concentrate on attracting researchers. By doing so, he said Oman could develop support sectors that could help provide macro economic stability. In order to do this, a three-pronged approach would be adopted, said Malik.
"Our aim is to expand the current research capacity by removing hurdles, aligning research capacity and resources to priority areas and designing long-term strategies for next generation research," he said. According to His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tareq al Said, Adviser to Sultan Qaboos and Chairman of the SRC, the strategy aims to take the best from a number of countries that have strongly developed research capacities and adapt them to Oman's special needs.
He said the council looked at the research policies and organisational structures in other countries, with a view to applying aspects of their experience to the implementation of Oman's project. Though the strategy still has to be fleshed out, key points of the Omani economy have been identified that benefit from increased research and development. The seeds of a knowledge-based economy have been planted and the government appears to have the commitment to provide the funding and support to allow it to germinate.
By Joseph Smart, Editorial Manager, OBG
© Oman Daily Observer 2007
