MUSCAT: The 2024 Ejaad Leaders Forum began here on Thursday under the auspices of Dr Said bin Mohammed al Saqri, Minister of Economy, to chalk out effective solutions for building a knowledge and innovation-based economy in the Sultanate of Oman The forum, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, represented by the Institute of Advanced Technologies Integration (Ejaad), is an annual event that brings together decision-makers from various sectors to discuss current challenges.
This year’s forum focuses on the added value of research, development, and innovation (RDI), highlighting its role in driving sustainable growth and addressing key national priorities.
The forum explores how to leverage Ejaad's efforts in RDI to create tangible impacts across various sectors, showcasing success stories and collaborative projects that have strengthened the innovation ecosystem in Oman and aligned it with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, through enhancing industrial competitiveness and sustainable industrial solutions.
On the sidelines of the event, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, represented by Ejaad, signed several agreements aimed at building a sustainable knowledge-based economy to foster economic growth and social welfare in Oman.
The agreements commit the parties to participate in national scientific research and innovation initiatives, transforming research and innovation into economic or commercial advantages, and encouraging the involvement of various sectors through the Ejaad platform.
Membership agreements for collaboration between industrial institutions and scientific, research, and innovation bodies were signed with Asyad Group, Dhofar Integrated Services Company (Nama Dhofar), SLB, United Engineering Services, and Global Space and Technology Company.
An agreement for joint academic-industrial projects was signed with Petroleum Development Oman and Sultan Qaboos University, including the testing of ETFE coating for hydrocarbon services, aiming to assess the ETFE coating technology as a corrosion-resistant solution for hydrocarbon services at high temperatures.
Another agreement includes qualification for composite repair of the pipeline system with a hydraulic water test, using carbon fiber-based composite systems to enhance damaged or corroded pipelines.
An agreement for radioactive material removal from produced water was signed with Petroleum Development Oman and Sohar University, aiming to develop an effective and cost-efficient solution for managing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in industries, especially in oil and gas sectors.
A collaboration agreement with Oman Liquefied Natural Gas Company and Sultan Qaboos University focuses on wave energy potential in Sur, evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of wave energy in the region.
Also signed was a roadmap agreement for energy storage to update Oman’s energy grid towards Oman Vision 2040, concentrating on research and improvement of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to enhance grid reliability and integrate renewable sources and electric vehicles, supporting Oman Vision 2040 goals.
A hydrogen transportation study agreement was signed with Oman LNG and German University of Technology in Oman (GUTech), focusing on integrating hydrogen into Oman’s existing gas pipeline infrastructure as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to building new hydrogen pipelines.
The agreements also include a consultancy study on factors affecting urban water demand in Oman, and another consultancy study on monitoring and managing harmful algal bloom effects at desalination stations with Nama Water Company and Sultan Qaboos University.
Additionally, an agreement for interactive AI in human resources and payroll systems was signed with the Industrial Innovation Academy and Nizwa University, focusing on creating AI-powered chat to optimize HR and payroll systems, automate employee data and payroll tasks, enhance employee support, ensure data security, reduce costs through automation of repetitive tasks, and support cross-platform usage, including feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement, enhancing productivity and client interaction.
The Ejaad programme aims to enhance collaboration between the academic, industrial, and government sectors in research and innovation, finding effective scientific solutions to challenges faced by the industrial sector and private companies. — ONA
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
