The Shura Council's Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee met this morning (Tuesday) with specialists from the Research and Innovation Authority, as part of the Committee's ongoing follow-up on the research and innovation sector and its review of progress in implementing relevant national plans and programmes. The meeting forms part of efforts to support the development of the national research system and strengthen its role in achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Opening the meeting, His Excellency Dr Ali Nasser Al Harasi, Chairman of the Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee, welcomed the Authority's specialists, underlining the importance of scientific research and innovation as fundamental pillars of sustainable development. He noted their role in advancing modern technologies, strengthening the knowledge-based economy, and providing scientific solutions to national challenges in line with global developments, thereby contributing to building national capabilities and enhancing their competitiveness.
During the meeting, specialists from the Research and Innovation Authority delivered a visual presentation reviewing the implementation of research and innovation plans and programmes under the Tenth Five-Year Development Plan, within the framework of the Education, Scientific Research and National Capabilities priority. The presentation addressed the Authority's key programmes and initiatives, principal performance indicators, efforts to build research capacity, initiatives to strengthen the innovation environment, and support for partnerships with higher education institutions, government entities and the private sector — all contributing to the achievement of Oman Vision 2040 objectives and the consolidation of an integrated national system for scientific research and innovation.
Following the presentation, Committee Members discussed a number of issues related to the Authority's work and raised a series of enquiries concerning strategic research programmes, mechanisms for supporting student projects and enabling their transformation into start-up companies, research funding priorities, and the criteria adopted by the Authority in determining priority research areas during the current phase, so as to ensure resources are directed towards projects of developmental and economic impact.
The discussion also addressed cooperation and coordination between the Research and Innovation Authority and various government entities, along with institutional linkage mechanisms between them. Committee Members affirmed the importance of directing scientific research towards priority national issues and giving greater attention to studies and research that support parliamentary work and provide the scientific data and indicators needed to reinforce the Shura Council's legislative role.


The meeting further addressed research chairs and the potential for expanding their establishment in order to strengthen scientific research efforts and provide academic and research institutions with further specialised research opportunities. The Committee also heard about the key financial and procedural challenges facing the Authority, and discussed the level of responsiveness of government institutions to the Authority's efforts and programmes aimed at developing the research and innovation sector, as well as means of enhancing institutional integration in service of national development priorities.
As part of its proceedings, the Committee was briefed on the expressed interest in embedding Arabic-language education and instruction within higher education institutions. It also reviewed the Ministry of Education's Annual Report for 2025 and the Arab Guiding Law for Promoting Mental Health in Educational Institutions, within the framework of its mandate to monitor legislation and policies relating to the education and scientific research sectors, in support of developing the educational system and enhancing the quality of its outcomes.
The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Dr Ali Nasser Al Harasi, Chairman of the Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee at the Shura Council, in the presence of Their Excellencies the Committee Members.