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ailyn agonia
doha
THE Embassy of Italy in Doha and Qatar Foundation (QF) have embarked on a joint social media campaign aimed at promoting their bilateral cooperation in the field of research and science diplomacy.
It was launched on the embassy’s official Twitter and Facebook accounts by Italian Ambassador to Qatar HE Alessandro Prunas on August 12 wherein he highlighted the importance of research in progressing cooperation between Italy and Qatar.
The campaign will present a series of video clips by Italian and local QF researchers, featuring leading Qatari entities like QF Research Development and Innovation’s (QF RDI) internationally recognised Qatar Genome Programme, as well as the three national research institutes under Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) at the forefront of efforts to seek novel solutions to grand challenges facing Qatar and the region namely, the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI).
“When I took office few months ago, I had the chance to meet many Italian researchers working at QF institutes, and I realised that there was a growing number of local projects involving top Italian research centres. When I discussed with QF the ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, we felt it would be essential to disseminate information about existing QF programmes to generate greater awareness among the Italian scientific research community, as well as highlight the contribution of Doha-based Italian scientists and experts as a means to encourage new research, development and innovation partnerships between our countries”, Ambassador Prunas commented about the initiative.
The official also said that the initiative was one of the few examples of areas of joint interest between Italy and Qatar, which are also the two countries’ top national priorities. He added, “Science diplomacy” or, as I like to call it, “diplomacy for science and research” can be instrumental in building bridges between the scientific communities of our countries and bring about closer interaction for the benefit of people beyond borders. The COVID-19 global emergency has made us realise that we need to improve common tools to respond to health crises and this can be achieved by reinforcing the network of relations that are already in place between our countries. Italy is eager to further increase diplomatic efforts to encourage research and scientific cooperation with Qatar.”
On his part, Dr Richard O’Kennedy, vice president for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) at QF and Vice President for Research at HBKU, said, “Collaboration is a crucial factor for highly effective research. It contributes to both accelerating scientific progress and it enhances quality of the work. Our partnership with Italian research centres and scientific experts is part of QF RDI’s effort to place Qatar at the forefront of scientific research and technological advancement and provide solutions to national and global needs.”
In particular, the campaign will feature Italian and local QF researchers highlighting their ongoing research projects and sharing their experiences of being part of Qatar’s and QF’s RDI ecosystem. The materials will serve as a window to the cutting-edge initiatives that have the potential to bring about positive impact to both countries, as well as the wider international community.
According to the embassy, the campaign has been developed also to highlight the personal commitment of these scientists and experts, who are devoted to their academic and professional careers in areas, such as environmental policies and sustainability, artificial intelligence, precision medicine and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
doha
THE Embassy of Italy in Doha and Qatar Foundation (QF) have embarked on a joint social media campaign aimed at promoting their bilateral cooperation in the field of research and science diplomacy.
It was launched on the embassy’s official Twitter and Facebook accounts by Italian Ambassador to Qatar HE Alessandro Prunas on August 12 wherein he highlighted the importance of research in progressing cooperation between Italy and Qatar.
The campaign will present a series of video clips by Italian and local QF researchers, featuring leading Qatari entities like QF Research Development and Innovation’s (QF RDI) internationally recognised Qatar Genome Programme, as well as the three national research institutes under Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) at the forefront of efforts to seek novel solutions to grand challenges facing Qatar and the region namely, the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI).
“When I took office few months ago, I had the chance to meet many Italian researchers working at QF institutes, and I realised that there was a growing number of local projects involving top Italian research centres. When I discussed with QF the ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, we felt it would be essential to disseminate information about existing QF programmes to generate greater awareness among the Italian scientific research community, as well as highlight the contribution of Doha-based Italian scientists and experts as a means to encourage new research, development and innovation partnerships between our countries”, Ambassador Prunas commented about the initiative.
The official also said that the initiative was one of the few examples of areas of joint interest between Italy and Qatar, which are also the two countries’ top national priorities. He added, “Science diplomacy” or, as I like to call it, “diplomacy for science and research” can be instrumental in building bridges between the scientific communities of our countries and bring about closer interaction for the benefit of people beyond borders. The COVID-19 global emergency has made us realise that we need to improve common tools to respond to health crises and this can be achieved by reinforcing the network of relations that are already in place between our countries. Italy is eager to further increase diplomatic efforts to encourage research and scientific cooperation with Qatar.”
On his part, Dr Richard O’Kennedy, vice president for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) at QF and Vice President for Research at HBKU, said, “Collaboration is a crucial factor for highly effective research. It contributes to both accelerating scientific progress and it enhances quality of the work. Our partnership with Italian research centres and scientific experts is part of QF RDI’s effort to place Qatar at the forefront of scientific research and technological advancement and provide solutions to national and global needs.”
In particular, the campaign will feature Italian and local QF researchers highlighting their ongoing research projects and sharing their experiences of being part of Qatar’s and QF’s RDI ecosystem. The materials will serve as a window to the cutting-edge initiatives that have the potential to bring about positive impact to both countries, as well as the wider international community.
According to the embassy, the campaign has been developed also to highlight the personal commitment of these scientists and experts, who are devoted to their academic and professional careers in areas, such as environmental policies and sustainability, artificial intelligence, precision medicine and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
