A UAE research programme that aims to increase rainfall in arid and semi-arid regions and promote water security has received a high-level of interest from around the world, said Sheikh Mansour Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science received 91 submissions from 398 researchers affiliated to 180 institutes from 45 countries. It witnessed a wide geographical participation, including academicians from countries such as Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Mexico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sweden, and Turkey, he said.

Sheikh Mansour said: "The UAE continues to prompt cooperation among the world's leading researchers to find alternatives to addressing the pressing challenges of water security. The programme demonstrates the nation's commitment in emerging as a hub for international scientific collaboration, innovation, and excellence in the field of rain enhancement science."

He added: "The global attention that surrounds this initiative is a validation of the UAE's leadership in embracing scientific research as a key pillar of the country's innovation strategy."

Among the 91 pre-proposals this year, the US topped the list with 16 submissions, closely followed by the UAE with 11. Other submissions from Russia, India and the UK numbered 7, 5 and 4 respectively, followed by Germany, Italy and Egypt.

In the upcoming months, submissions will be evaluated by an international reviewers committee. Shortlisted candidates will be announced on May 17. The close of deadline to submit full proposals will be midnight of August 17, 2016.

In its first cycle, the program drew the participation of 325 scientists from 34 countries, affiliated to 151 organizations. Research teams from Japan, UAE, and Germany were named awardees of the first cycle.

An initiative of the UAE Ministry for Presidential Affairs and overseen by the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), the programme offers a grant of $5 million over a three-year period to be shared by up to five winning research proposals, selected through a two-stage merit review process. - TradeArabia News Service