The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation announced today the funding of 475 research proposals with a total value of OMR 2,469,776 as part of the Institutional Efficiency-Based Funding Program for this year.
The targeted funding categories include researchers holding PhDs, Master’s and Bachelor’s degree holders, as well as university and college students in the Sultanate of Oman.
This support aims to build local research capacity, provide a stimulating research environment for scientific inquiry, and enhance the capabilities of researchers at various academic levels.
This year’s cycle saw the funding of 475 research projects submitted by 29 academic institutions from higher education entities. The research funding amounts were allocated to different academic levels, covering projects for PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s degree holders, as well as for students currently enrolled in higher education.
The number of funded research projects for PhD holders reached 158 this year, with each project receiving up to OMR 20,000 over a maximum period of two years.
For Master’s and Bachelor’s degree holders, 145 research projects were funded, with each receiving up to OMR 3,000. Additionally, 172 student research projects from higher education institutions were funded, each receiving up to OMR 1,500.
The Institutional Efficiency-Based Funding Program has been developed to meet the requirements of the current phase, offering institutions a broader scope to submit competitive research after evaluation and present it as a comprehensive package.
The program aims to activate the role of academic and research institutions by granting them greater authority and the opportunity to independently develop and manage their research programs. It also enables them to conduct detailed monitoring of research projects electronically. This program focuses on supporting research that contributes to achieving national priorities and delivering practical, applicable results.
The program management process involves researchers registering and submitting all details of their research proposals through the Oman Research Portal (ORP), with the evaluation of proposals carried out within the research institutions.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation supports research institutions, providing overall supervision, auditing their work, and monitoring the outcomes of these research projects through regular evaluations of quality, productivity, and efficiency. The ministry considers factors such as the number of scientific publications, patent registrations, collaboration with other institutions, and contributions from the private sector to secure various funding sources, thereby enhancing the quality of scientific research in line with global research and innovation indicators.
