Sultanate of Oman, Innovation Park Muscat, Al Khoud +968 22305492 ejaad.info@moheri.gov.om
EJAAD

FAQs



What is Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)?

Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), is a standardized scale for assessing the maturity of technologies TRLs that is developed by NASA. TRL provides a consistent and uniform assessment of technical maturity across different types of technology.

TRLs are based on a scale from 1 to 9 with 9 being the most mature technology.

What is Intellectual Property (IP), and its role in innovation and R&D?

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to the legal rights granted to protect inventions, technological advancements, designs, and brand identities.

IP plays a vital role in transforming ideas and research outcomes into valuable assets. It ensures that innovators, researchers, and organizations can secure ownership of their innovations, prevent unauthorized use, and leverage their work for commercialization, funding, or collaboration opportunities.

By protecting IP, R&D efforts are encouraged and incentivized, as they provide a competitive edge and open doors for economic impact.

What is Applied Research?

Applied Research is a type of research that is focused on solving practical, real-world problems. Unlike basic research, which seeks to expand general knowledge and understanding without immediate practical use, applied research aims to take existing scientific knowledge and apply it to develop solutions, technologies, or improvements in products, processes, or services.

Applied Research is the bridge between basic science and development. It plays a central role in the R&D continuum, especially in industries and sectors focused on innovation, commercialization, and product development.

What is EJAAD?

EJAAD is a dynamic and collaborative hub designed to bridge the gap between industry and academia, driving the advancement of applied research, technology development, and innovation.

Aligned with Oman Vision 2040, EJAAD plays a pivotal role in shaping the future by aligning with more than 50% of Oman’s Vision 2040 priorities and 34% of the National Goals. Operating on a membership basis, EJAAD fosters strong engagement and collaboration among stakeholders from academia, industry, SME and other sectors.

By leveraging local and International RDI capabilities, embracing emerging technologies, and addressing industrial challenges, EJAAD drives Oman’s knowledge-based economy forward. It also integrates global best practices, promotes knowledge sharing, and focuses on developing impactful solutions that contribute to Oman’s rise in global rankings, such as the Global Innovation Index (GII), the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), energy transition and Net Zero Emissions.

EJAAD was founded in 2017 by the Ministry of Higher Education Research and Innovation (formerly The Research Council, TRC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Petroleum Development Oman.

Who can join EJAAD?

All stakeholders from industry, academia, and SME interested in opportunities, industrial solutions, support or uses of R&D in the following focus areas:

  • Oil & Gas
  • Material & Manufacturing Process
  • Environmental Sustainability & Biotechnology
  • Logistics & Sustainable Supply Chain
  • Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
  • Digitalization & Artificial Intelligence
  • Energy & Hydrogen Technologies
  • Water Management & Sanitation
  • Health
  • Space Technologies
  • Fintech
  • Minerals
Is there a membership fee to join EJAAD?

The annual subscription fees are currently set at OMR 1,500 and OMR 250 for the industrial stakeholders and academic, research institutions, SME, respectively.

The subscription fees are specified to cover the operational expenses, attain self-sustainability of EJAAD, and to execute business workshops.

How can I become a member?

For a stakeholder to join EJAAD, it needs to:

  1. Request an introductory engagement session to gain a better understanding of EJAAD’s platform, benefits, and collaboration opportunities.
  2. Fill-in and sign the EJAAD membership agreement, and email it to ejaad.info@moheri.gov.om.

    registration process shall be processed within 30 days. Membership applications can be submitted at any time during the year.

  3. Pay the annual membership fee, after which the organization is granted an access authorization to the EJAAD platform.
  4. Engage in technical sessions to identify industrial challenges and explore collaboration opportunities.
How can I access the EJAAD Platform?

Go to EJAAD platform at here click on Academia, Industry, or SME depending on your classification.

For Academia:
  1. Click Academia to login as a Researcher or Research Focal Point from an academic institution that is an active EJAAD member.
  2. At the institutional login, the Internal Federation option is selected by default for local universities. Click on the drop-down menu to select your university/college. Then click Continue.
  3. Enter your Username and Password same as the one you use in your research institute to login in to EJAAD platform, then click login.
For Industry/SME:
  1. Click Industry or SME to login as Industry/SME Focal Point from an industrial company/SME that is an active EJAAD member.
  2. At the Oman Research Portal Login, enter the Username and Password received from EJAAD upon membership, click login.
Can I track my submission?

Yes, at any time, it is possible to check the status of a submitted and/or under processing industry challenge, research proposal by simply logging into to EJAAD platform and checking through your dashboard.

Can I secure industry funding through EJAAD for my research idea?

Yes, it is possible to secure industry funding through EJAAD for your research idea. To do so, you must submit your idea through the EJAAD platform, ensuring that it is business-oriented and aligns with the research idea submission guidelines established by EJAAD. Ideas that are well-structured, address real industrial challenges, and demonstrate potential for practical application and value creation are more likely to attract interest and funding from industry partners.

EJAAD facilitates the matchmaking process between researchers and relevant industry stakeholders, aiming to drive collaborative, demand-driven R&D that supports national priorities.

Can I collaborate with researchers from other institutions within Oman?

Yes, collaboration with researchers from other institutions within Oman is not only possible but highly encouraged. Cross-institutional collaboration fosters the exchange of knowledge, optimizes the use of resources, and enhances the overall impact of research and innovation.

It enables researchers to address complex challenges more effectively by combining expertise from different disciplines and sectors.

Can I collaborate with researchers from international institutions outside Oman?

Yes, you can collaborate with researchers from international institutions outside Oman. International collaboration is encouraged as it brings global expertise, fosters knowledge exchange, and enhances the quality and visibility of research outcomes.

However, it is important to note that for projects funded through EJAAD, the Principal Investigator (PI) must be affiliated with a local university or research institution. The international partner can participate as a co-investigator or collaborator, contributing to specific components of the project within the defined framework of the funding guidelines.

What are the minimum requirements for an
Industrial Challenge
to be eligible for submission in EJAAD?

An Industrial Challenge refers to a significant problem or issue faced by industries that require innovative solutions, improvements, or new approaches. These challenges can range from technical or operational problems to environmental, regulatory, and market-related issues.

To be eligible for submission in EJAAD, an Industrial Challenge must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Relevance to EJAAD’s Focus Areas: The challenge should align with one of the eight major research focus areas of EJAAD, which are closely linked to the economic and societal development priorities of the Sultanate.
  • Appropriate Duration and Budget: The duration and budget allocated for addressing the challenge should be proportionate to the scope and complexity of the problem at hand.
  • Technology Readiness and Evaluation: The scope of work for the challenge must consider a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or above, with clearly defined research evaluation criteria to ensure measurable progress.
What are the minimum requirements for a
Research Hosting Institute
to be eligible for submission in EJAAD?

The research host institution can be any public or private entity located in the Sultanate of Oman. This includes:

  • Academic institutions and/or
  • Research-performing institutions

The followings are minimum eligibility requirements to host a research project:

  1. Academic and/or research-performing institutions can host a PI as long as the PI’s independence is not constrained by the institute’s research strategy;
  2. The hosting institution must have the infrastructure and the capacity required to carry out research projects;
  3. The hosting institution commits to the following conditions:
    1. The PI can apply for funding independently but through AFP;
    2. The PI must manage the research project and its funding and make appropriate resource allocation decisions;
    3. The PI shall publish independently and invite, as co-authors, only those who have contributed substantially to the reported work;
    4. The PI shall supervise research team members, including research students, doctoral students or others;
    5. The PI must have access to reasonable space and facilities for conducting the research work.
Can I submit a research proposal for more than one IC at the same time?

Yes, you can submit a research proposal for more than one Industrial Challenge (IC) at the same time.

There are no restrictions on the number of proposals a researcher can submit, as long as each proposal is tailored to the specific challenge requirements.

Is there a specific month designated for posting industrial challenges?

There is no fixed month designated for posting industrial challenges. Instead, challenges are driven by the immediate needs and priorities of industry partners. This flexible approach ensures that the research and innovation ecosystem can respond dynamically to real-time issues and opportunities faced by the industry sector.

Once a challenge is submitted by an industry stakeholder and validated by the EJAAD team, it is posted for researchers via the EJAAD platform to propose relevant and impactful solutions — regardless of the time of year.

Get In Touch

Sultanate of Oman, Innovation Park Muscat, Al Khoud

ejaad.info@moheri.gov.om

+968 22305492

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