Chamber Goes Nuclear

TDT| Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Unleashes Bahrain’s first research weapon

A first-of-its-kind ‘Business Lab’ is being launched through a partnership between the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Award to turn academic research into real-world economic solutions.

The initiative aims to bridge the gap between economic research and private-sector needs by testing the outcomes of studies in semi-practical settings before broader implementation. Officials say this marks a bold shift in Bahrain’s business innovation landscape, where data and applied knowledge are increasingly becoming central to growth strategies.

Tapping research potential

Speaking at a meeting with the award’s Board of Trustees, Chamber Chairman H.E. Sameer Abdullah Nass said the lab will help align scientific research with market realities and national priorities. H.E. noted the Kanoo family’s long-standing role in supporting knowledge-based initiatives and praised the award for promoting research excellence in strategic sectors.

H.E. added that the Chamber has, over the past eight years, invested in building its internal research and analytical capabilities through a dedicated Studies and Initiatives Department and the launch of a Strategic Think Tank. These bodies aim to generate forward-thinking insights for the benefit of the private sector.

Lab-based approach

Among the proposed initiatives discussed was the establishment of a joint Business Lab to test research findings before they are scaled for national use. Also proposed was a new award sub-category focused on applied economic research offering practical, business-ready solutions. The meeting further discussed the idea of incentivising private-sector companies to fund or adopt relevant research outcomes by offering institutional recognition and media exposure as development partners.

Bridging business, academia

Other proposals included the formation of a joint coordination committee or digital platform to steer research toward Bahrain’s top economic priorities. H.E. Nass emphasised the importance of integrating private-sector perspectives into research from the outset to ensure measurable and sustainable outcomes.

The meeting was attended by Second Vice Chairman Mohammed Abdul Jabbar Al Koohji, Vice Treasurer Waleed Kanoo, and Board Members Yusuf Salahuddin and Sawsan Abu Al-Hassan.

With Bahrain placing greater emphasis on innovation, data, and knowledge-based development, the Chamber’s business lab proposal may set a precedent for public-private research collaboration across the region.