Mr Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada Qatar minister of energy and industry as saying that Qatar's oil and gas business in future will be in need of a more knowledge based development and new technology.

He said while giving the keynote speech on day two of Qatar Foundation's Second Annual Research Forum that therefore the challenge could be overcome by transforming the oil and gas business into one based on knowledge and technology.

Mr Al Sada said that the biggest challenge the oil and gas business will be facing in the future is the need for more knowledge based development and new technology. Thus the first and critically important step for the transfer to a knowledge based economy must begin with the transformation of the oil and gas business into knowledge and technology based business.

He said the audience of many regional and international scientists and experts gathered to discuss and share knowledge on globalization and democratisation of research that while Qatar's oil and gas industry will remain strong even after 2030 it will build on the knowledge economy through energy research.

Mr Al Sada said that "As Qatar develops and diversifies its economy the oil and gas industry will still be a significant business for Qatar by 2030. Also the society's intensified need for science and technology as the country moves on to 2030 was discussed during the opening session of the second day of the forum.”

Dr Paul Alivusatos director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in his presentation discussed 'How will science evolve as we move to 2030?' and What extra demands will society have from science?

Dr Paul said that "Social needs for technical solutions to energy and environment problems will intensify. The society will have stronger needs from science and we need to address it. Fields such as nano technology and biomedical science will help address the problems.”

Researchers from organizations and institutions in Qatar presented their 47 projects in energy and 39 in environment to the visiting delegates. The research were done in collaboration with a range of well recognized international institutions including the University of Kentucky, University of Singapore, University of Houston, Michigan State University, Beijing Jiaotong University and the US campus of the Texas A&M University.

(Sourced from the Peninsula)