Qatar Foundation views research as essential to national and regional growth; as the means to diversify the nation’s economy, enhance educational offerings and develop areas that affect the community, such as health and environment.

Qatar National Research Fund aims to foster original, competitively selected research in engineering and technology, physical and life sciences, medicine, humanities, social sciences and the arts.

The programs cover basic disciplines emphasized through Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS): energy and environment, computer science and information and communications technology, health and social sciences, and the arts and humanities.

QNRF had awarded $345 million through these programs, with the total number of recipients hailing from more than 60 countries.

In 2011, QNRF partnered with Qatar Supreme Council of Education (SEC) and launched Secondary School Research Experience Program that allowed students from Qatar's independent and private secondary schools to carry out research based on the curriculum standards set by the SEC and under the supervision of school teachers.