National Innovation Strategy (NIS).

This National Innovation Strategy is a nationwide document linked to all the national plans aiming to achieve sustainable development since it focuses on activating all national strategies in an integrated and harmonious manner by focusing on the following four main pillars (1) institutional and societal integration, to enable effective communication and cooperation between the relevant authorities to achieve horizontal and vertical harmony between policy-makers and decision-makers on the one hand, and the productive, supportive and beneficiary institutions of innovation on the other hand; (2) public education, higher education, research, and development, and the labor market; (3) intellectual property and knowledge marketing, which seeks to strengthen the knowledge society, implement an effective system for the protection of intellectual property rights and stimulate the production of innovative ideas, goods, and services at the national and international levels; (4) economic diversification led by innovation to provide job opportunities, produce technology, promote small and medium enterprises, and attract foreign direct investment in all sectors related to the Omani economy. The NIS is expected to play a key role in realizing the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. The underlying belief of the Strategy is that, in addition to the development of human resources, which is the cornerstone, it is necessary to develop an integrated strategy to achieve economic diversification, to work diligently, and by all means to make the best use of available natural resources, and to create an appropriate economic climate in which individual initiatives grow, the role of the private sector is strengthened, and tools, means, and systems developed in a manner that it makes Oman a good oasis for beneficial foreign investments.
The Institutional and Social Integration Pillar focuses on the empowerment of effective communication and cooperation between the relevant stakeholders in a way that achieves harmony between policymakers on one hand, and between the institutions that produce, support, and benefit from innovation on the other hand. This pillar also includes initiatives under which emerged programs concerning communication and collaboration, enabling environment, governance, and knowledge management. The second pillar is primarily concerned with the empowerment of individuals at all levels and sectors and aims at adapting the education outputs, labor market needs, and future employment plans, in addition to the enhancement of entrepreneurship culture. The Intellectual Property and Knowledge Transfer Pillar aim to convert Oman into a knowledge-based society and also implement an effective system for the protection of intellectual property rights which will benefit the production of innovative ideas, goods, and services at both the national and international levels. The proposed strategy of this pillar includes different initiatives that cover several programs, including IP capacity building initiatives, IP infrastructure initiatives, initiatives for financing the activities of IP rights, as well as IP culture initiatives. The Economic Diversification Pillar, which is the fourth pillar of NIS, is considered the engine for sustainable social and economic development. It aims to create jobs, produce technology, enhance small and medium enterprises, and attract foreign direct investment in all Omani economic-related sectors.
Each of the NIS activation phases, covering the period between 2016 and 2040, includes several initiatives: (1) under the Cropping Close Fruits phase, there are some initiatives, including the expansion of the broadband network, as well as the enhancement of science and technology transfer programs and projects in the areas that are of national priority through the development of the general procurements policies of the country for mega projects; (2) the Empowerment phase includes diverse and comprehensive initiatives, such as the development of curricula in school education tailored towards experimentation and exploration of the development of science, mathematics and reading skills, and the establishment of innovation support centers throughout the Sultanate; (3) the Comprehensive System phase, all policies will complement and integrate into each other forming an effective national system for sustainable development.