MUSCAT -- The Innovation Affairs Department at SQU held a meeting with Information Technology Authority (ITA) with the aim of introducing the Innovation Affairs Department as a technology transfer office which link the research output of the university to the community; and exploring possible collaboration opportunities with ITA and SQU in order to promote the innovation culture among SQU community.
The meeting was attended by Shaikha al Akhzami, Director (In-Charge), Innovation Affairs Department, SQU, Maha al Bulushi, Projects Specialist, ITA, and Rajalakshmi, Business Development Specialist, ITA. The meeting was successful in giving orientation to the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative by the ITA.
This programme will act as a co-ordination programme with different stakeholders towards building knowledge economy for Oman.
SQU as a main resource of knowledge is the core part of the initiative activities. ITA will play an important role in funding this initiative by providing incubators and consultancies for the selected innovation projects from academia. ITA will mainly co-ordinate, licence and facilitate the commercialisation of such projects.
The meeting also discussed the E-Youth programme by the ITA. It's a competition among third, fourth and fifth year students from different fields for their research projects which uses the information and communication technology features.
Meanwhile, the Innovation Affairs Department also held a meeting with the Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC) recently. The purpose of the meeting was to follow up the ongoing research projects sponsored by the IIC with different companies from the industrial estates and the university; explore new opportunities for potential research projects with the industry; and discuss drafting the master agreement between SQU and the IIC. Dr Abdullah al Zakwani, Director, led the IIC team during the meeting whereas Shaikha al Akhzami co-ordinated the SQU team.
Since last year, 13 research projects are currently running in three applied colleges at SQU with IIC sponsorship or being negotiated with the Centre.
The projects are in the food industry, agricultural products, electrical engineering, geology and others. Dr Tasneem Parvez, Dr Alia al Ansari and Dr Michel Claereboudt, Assistant Deans for Postgraduate Studies & Research in the colleges of Engineering, Science, and Agricultural and Marine Sciences respectively, have been designated as Technology Transfer Agents by IIC who will be facilitating the link between SQU and the industry.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
