We, Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State issued by Royal Decree 101/96,
the Law Governing the Administrative Apparatus of the State issued by Royal Decree 26/75 and its amendments,
and Royal Decree 65/98 Establishing a Council for Higher Education,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The Council for Scientific Research is hereby established under the chairmanship of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al-Said, Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan, and with the membership of the following:
First: In their employment capacity.
1. Minister of Higher Education—Deputy chairman.
2. Minister of Health.
3. Minister of Oil and Gas.
4. Minister of Social Development.
5. Secretary General of the Ministry of National Economy.
6. Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
7. Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University.
8. Vice Chancellor of Sohar University.
9. Vice Chancellor of University of Nizwa.
10. Vice Chancellor of Dhofar University.
11. Director of Knowledge Oasis.
Second: In their personal capacity.
1. Sheikh Salim bin Mustahil Al-Maashni.
2. Dr Ali bin Saud Al-Baimani.
3. Dr Taher bin Abdulrahman Baomar.
4. Dr Hilal bin Ali bin Zahir Al-Hinai.
5. Dr Hamad bin Said Al-Aufi.
The council shall select a secretary from among its members.
Article II
The council shall work to regulate, encourage, and support scientific research affairs by various material and moral means in accordance with the provisions of this decree. It must be considered the primary reference in this field, and it must be responsible for coordination between the entities and institutions concerned with scientific research affairs.
Article III
The Council for Scientific Research is competent with the following functions:
1. Setting a scientific strategy and an integrated national plan for scientific research, and following up on their development.
2. Determining the priorities of the national plan for scientific research.
3. Setting one or more programmes to implement the priorities of the national plan for scientific research and supervising this implementation.
4. Announcing the national plans for scientific research and their priorities in a manner that provides an incentive for the development of scientific research.
5. Supporting individual innovations and research projects in accordance with the priorities of the national plan for scientific research.
6. Supporting the publication of valuable scientific literature.
7. Discussing the allocations of scientific research and proposals for their distribution to research entities in preparation for their inclusion in the General Budget of the State.
8. Other matters assigned to it by His Majesty the Sultan relating to scientific research.
Article IV
The council shall set an internal regulation governing its work, and it must be issued by a decision by the chairman.
Article V
The phrase “and scientific research” is hereby repealed from the text of article 2(a) of the mentioned Royal Decree 65/98.
Article VI
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 15 Jumada Al-Awwal 1426
Corresponding to: 22 June 2005
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 794 issued on 2 July 2005.