The “Sultan Haitham Chairs” Programme in higher education institutions is one of the most prominent national initiatives, reflecting the profound vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik which holds that the renaissance of nations begins with empowering the mind, and that scientific research, when aligned with development priorities, becomes a driving force in shaping the future of The Sultanate of Oman in line with the aspirations of “Oman Vision 2040”, while also strengthening its presence in global scientific and innovation arenas.
The “Sultan Haitham Chair for Advanced Technologies” is the first chair launched under this ambitious programme. It seeks to serve as a research platform for Omani universities to compete in transforming national challenges into innovation opportunities, and to establish pillars of excellence by developing practical solutions that serve various development sectors. The allocation of research chairs bearing the name of His Majesty highlights the strong emphasis placed on scientific research and innovation within national priorities, and affirms its vital role in guiding the economy and producing solutions, while strengthening specialised research and linking it directly to the development needs of The Sultanate of Oman.
The programme is based on attracting top scientific expertise and building national capabilities, while enhancing strategic partnerships locally and internationally to ensure knowledge transfer and technology localisation. This approach aims to enable decision-makers to formulate evidence-based development policies, contributing to raising the global ranking of Omani academic institutions and enhancing the position of The Sultanate of Oman in global innovation indicators.
The programme’s governance framework is built on an integrated system that includes strict requirements for host institutions and high standards for selecting chair professors, along with sustainable funding mechanisms that ensure the continuity of scientific output, support postgraduate students, and provide consultancy services that benefit society and industry, ultimately maximising the economic and social impact of scientific research.
Within the framework of “knowledge dissemination and exchange of expertise,” the Chair is committed to publishing distinguished research outputs and managing data and intellectual property according to best international practices. All programme activities are subject to rigorous periodic evaluation mechanisms that measure “applied impact,” including resulting patents and knowledge-based solutions that contribute to the national economy with innovative products and services that enhance the global competitiveness of The Sultanate of Oman.