Muscat: The report was shared during the first-of-its-kind forum that brought together leaders from the academic and industrial sectors under one roof, hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation.

The initiative aims to bridge the gap between industry and academia by aligning business research, development, and innovation (RDI) needs with local academic expertise.

During a strategic presentation, a representative from EJAAD emphasized the platform’s role as a “one-stop shop for research and innovation,” particularly in helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) leverage academic research to fuel their growth. The goal is to optimize in-country value (ICV) by redirecting business RDI requirements toward local academic institutions, thereby maximizing the utilization of national expertise and resources.

EJAAD’s collaborative projects include contributions from key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Oman Investment Authority (OIA), and Oman LNG. Highlights of the initiative include:

Hydrogen R&D Roadmap by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to support Oman’s energy transition and promote innovation under the OETP framework.

PDO’s multidisciplinary function team to generate new technology-driven opportunities.

OIA’s RDI guidelines, developed to encourage local investment in research and innovation under its umbrella.

Oman LNG’s Joint Internship Program to equip fresh graduates with RDI skills and enhance knowledge exchange.

The initiative is part of Oman’s broader vision to cultivate a competitive, innovation-led economy by enabling research-based collaboration between the public and private sectors.