Energy, water and cyber security top goals

DOHA: H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, yesterday said the country was facing three priority challenges — energy security, water security and cyber security.
Addressing the Annual Research Conference (ARC) at Qatar National Convention Centre, she said: “This conference is an opportunity to announce our decision to address three priority challenges in our country. Energy security through raising the production of solar energy to one gigawatt by 2020; water security through promoting scientific research in the area of desalination; and cyber security through strengthening information security management in an electronically open and overlapped space.”
She called on participants to share their creative energies by applying intelligent solutions to these critical challenges that could have a positive impact on Qatar’s development. 
“In addition, we continue to pursue our research in health, particularly in priority sectors in our country, namely diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological disorders.”
She reaffirmed Qatar’s pledge to support Arab expatriate scientists and provide necessary resources for reputable centres across the world to advance research expertise locally, regionally and internationally.
The two-day conference under the theme ‘Qatar’s Cross-cutting Research Grand Challenges,’ is organised by Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D). 
Its partner institutions like Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute and Qatar Computing Research Institute will support Qatar’s energy independence, water sustainability and cyber security. 
Prominent academics and experts from the local and international research communities are taking part to identify major issues essential in implementing Qatar National Research Strategy 2013 (QNRS). 
Faisal Alsuwaidi, President of QF R&D, urged delegates to begin working on the identified challenges, and said some challenges not highlighted this year will remain important and will be addressed through ongoing initiatives such as Qatar National Research Fund grants and the work of research institutions. 
“We ask to prepare five-year research proposals and we will invite them in the next few months.
“We must move research along the innovation value chain towards commercialisation, application, and results. We have already started but results will take some time. 
“The QNRS grand challenges help us focus on a few critical areas as we continue to implement the broader plan. We have an overarching strategy with QNRS and we are making progress in addressing a wide range of priorities,” Alsuwaidi added. 
The first panel discussion focused on ‘Facing the Challenges — International Experiences and Qatar’s Opportunities.” 
It was moderated by Dona Crawford of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US, and participated by Dr Thomas Zacharia, Executive Vice President of QF R&D.
Today the conference will begin with keynote speeches by several prominent researchers. 
Dr Farnam Jahanian, who leads the US National Science Foundation Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, will speak on the importance of  a cyber secure society; Dr Ramesh Ramamoorthy, Science and Technology Director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US, will discuss breakthroughs in solar energy; and Dr Adel Sharif, Research Director from Qatar Energy & Environment Research Institute, will talk about the role of science and innovation in achieving water security.
An award ceremony will be held in the evening to honour outstanding researchers and students who have submitted exceptional oral and poster presentations. 
The Peninsula