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Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review: Oman

The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Reviews prepared by UNCTAD aim to contribute to the development of national capacities in this field in order that national science, technology and innovation plans and programmes make an effective contribution to development strategies and improve the competitiveness of the productive sectors in a global economy in which knowledge is an increasingly important factor.

This review is intended to be a tool for learning and reflection. It is an analytical instrument, not a rating mechanism, which examines a set of proposals from an external and neutral perspective.

This publication has three fundamental goals.

  1. To offer the Sultanate of Oman an up-to-date assessment of the framework conditions and interactions required for a functional national innovation system.

  2. To draw attention to policy requirements for strengthening the national innovation system based on three important pillars: human capacities, intellectual property and economic diversification.

  3. To provide a number of recommendations for strengthening policies and measures in order to improve technological capacity and encourage innovation.

The review of the science, technology and innovation policies of the Sultanate of Oman was conducted in response to a request by the Government of Oman and received the support of the Research Council of Oman.

During visits to the Sultanate of Oman, the team held nearly 100 interviews and meetings with representatives of government agencies, research institutes, universities, trade unions, chambers of commerce, businesses and non-governmental organizations.

An initial draft of this document was presented and discussed at a national workshop held in Muscat on 10 December 2013, with the participation of more than 100 experts and national science, technology and innovation stakeholders. The comments and suggestions made there have been taken into account in the preparation of this review.


The assessments, opinions and conclusions expressed in this document are entirely those of the UNCTAD secretariat.

03 Nov 2014