Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), the leading provider of integrated telecommunication services in the Sultanate of Oman, and Sultan Qaboos University have signed a five-year partnership agreement to foster scientific research in the fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This move is part of the ongoing efforts to develop scientific research in the Sultanate. The agreement stipulates the launch of the “Applied Research Fund” designed to provide support to faculty members and researchers in the field of ICT and AI.
Further, the deal intends to empower researchers to collect and analyze data using the latest technical tools, as well as adopt technological innovations in the fields of medicine, agriculture, environment, technology, engineering, and other emerging technologies, in line with the government’s policy of supporting scientific research and innovation aligning with Oman Vision 2040.
Talal Said Al Mamari CEO – Omantel
“We are delighted to enter into an important partnership with Sultan Qaboos University, especially as research funding is a core part of Omantel’s social responsibility and commitment to supporting Oman’s youth in their career advancement and assisting them in joining national efforts to build a digital economy based on knowledge and innovation. This partnership will go a long way in boosting national efforts to consolidate Oman’s position in UNESCO’s Global Innovation Index. We are confident the resultant program under this partnership will lead to the development of solutions and innovations that would potentially be part of our services at Omantel.”
As part of the agreement, Omantel will lend multi-level support to the project through the engagement of its relevant departments, with the technology, strategy, and innovation departments tackling related issues and internal challenges, collaborating with internal teams to ensure consensus on the final topics shortlisted by the University, evaluating and selecting final projects and making recommendations and allocating advisors for each research project.
Omantel Innovation Labs will provide support by providing access to Omantel’s incubators and accelerators programs and connections with Omantel’s experts, through nearly 30 scientific papers divided over a period of 5 years.
His Highness Sayyid Dr. Fahad bin Al Julanda Al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, said that, “This partnership with Omantel aims to boost our contribution, as a national university, to the country’s efforts to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those that focus on stimulating innovation, driving sustainable industries, and encouraging partnerships between public and private sector institutions and to work towards elevating the quality of education.”
