UAE oil to deplete in 70 years

The UAE must focus on investment in scientific research and innovation technology as oil resources will deplete in the next 40-70 years, says Dr Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al Najar, Head of Arab Science and Technology.
Progress in science and technology is vital to national security as it will help enhance political, economic, military and cultural capabilities of the nation, he adds.

Investments made by Arab countries in scientific research does not exceed 0.3 per cent of GDP, compared to 2.5 per cent in Western countries, says Dr Najar. This is also an answer to the unemployment problem facing the region. About 100 million jobs are needed by 2030, he says.

"The university education system should be revamped with a focus on subjects as per the needs of the job market in addition to instilling the importance of scientific research in young minds. Today most children just memorise matter and pass exams. Also there is a decline in the number of students doing post-graduate courses and applied sciences, and this is disturbing," says Dr Najar.

Meanwhile statistics show the GCC increased its education spend to $35 billion in 2009 from $28bn in 2007. This has been reflected in the rise in the number of universities in the Gulf. Educational institutes increased by 12.5 per cent between 2001 and 2005. However, only private and foreign universities increased their presence, he says.

Similarly, R&D budgets of some companies such as General Motors or IBM far exceed the budget of countries such as South Korea, China and India. Private sector should play a greater role in financing research projects and establish more such centres, he says. At present private sector firms do it under the name of social responsibility, but more active participation is the need of the hour, he adds.

Statistics show private companies fund about 45 per cent of scientific research inthe European Union, while government and public sector are the only bodies funding such research in the Arab World, he says.
Similarly studies show every million dollar invested in scientific research produced $100 million in Western countries, but the same investment in the Arab World gave $5m.

Scientific research in Europe and the US rely on the private sector for financing, while the Arab World depends on the government and public sector. There needs to be a rotation of funding, he adds.
We need to take inspiration from leaders such as Microsoft Founder Bill Gates who supports scientific research to serve community. Research is the only way to achieve economic development and social welfare.

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