Name:		Prof. Mufid Samarai (Head of Engineering Materials Laboratory Section)
Company: Address:		Sharjah Research Academy PO Box 2580 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates	Tel +971 6 5554434 Fax +971 6 5554437 Mobile +971 50 6331584 Email: mufid.samarai@yahoo.com

Short Profile of the Person:
Mufid A. Samarai was a professor of civil engineering, College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad since 1962. He obtained his Ph.D. from University College London in 1976, and has been engaged in teaching, research and consulting work. As Director  of the  National Center for Construction and Research (NCCL) and Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Construction and director  of the Engineering Bureau of the University of Baghdad, he was involved in the repair of over 100 structures and bridges in Iraq, Jordan and UAE.  Dean of the Engineering college of the Applied Science University in Amman, Jordan from 1993 till 1997. Professor, and head of department and Director of the Central Laboratories at the University of Sharjah till 2009. At present he is a Senior Adviser of Sharjah Academy for Scientific Research, Government of Sharjah, UAE

A former vice-president of CIB (Holland) and Bureau member of RILEM (France) and many of its international research committees. He is a board member of the Arab Institute for Operations and Maintenance(Lebanon).His research interests include quality control, low cost housing, non-destructive testing, durability, sustainability, damage assessment and repair of structures and conservation of heritage buildings. He has over 160 publications two  books and 4 registered patents.

Short Profile of the Company:
Sharjah Academy for Scientific Research–SASR- was established in 2008 under the umbrella of the Ruler's Office of Sharjah as an initiative and innovation of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who believes in the massive resources the universities possess. "We must move academic staff research outcomes from the shelves to the industry to be utilized and benefit all parties working towards sustainable development and community service."

The aim of the Sharjah Academy for Scientific Research is, in cooperation with other Educational Institutes, to fulfil and accomplish this directive and the ambitions of academia. Sharjah Academy for Scientific Research has been working to find ways to utilize the rich resources available to the academy and outsource them to the public and private sectors. Much of these efforts and agreements focus on improving communication and coordination between academia, public and private sector, local, state and federal agencies; and developing ways to bring together relevant expertise to enhance added value to projects and industries.

Despite significant development within the public, private and academic sectors, the sharing of expertise
and genuine collaboration is yet to be accomplished. The establishment of Memorandum of
Understandings (MOU) between Sharjah Academy for Scientific Research and different governmental and private sectors will combine the intelligent efforts of all participating agencies and seeks to greatly enhance the ability to add value to any agreed project and further utilize the resources of academia and serves the needs of community.

The Academy covers the following subjects
-Soil Mechanics
Assist during final foundation design and construction, and provide recommendations for further testing and inspection as required. This allows us to be particularly aware of the unusual or unforeseen conditions that may affect performance.

-Quality Control
Act as third-party reviewer for plans, and proposed construction documents - independent from designers/ engineers - that identifies design deficiencies, improves construct-ability, minimizes liability and expedites the building department review process. Provide studies, advice, review, proposals, suggestions and analysis towards proper selection, sustainability, characterization and testing, design and evaluation of materials for infrastructures and superstructures.

-Maintenance & Rehabilitation
Provide advice, perform reviews and conduct assessments and evaluations of exiting conditions for structures and infrastructures and set out rehabilitation and maintenance strategies. Perform risk analysis imposed by seismic activities, environmental impact analysis of new and existing developments. Provide advice and perform traffic studies and provide reviews of existing development plans and proposed alternatives. Provide schemes and monitor strategies for quality control and advice on specifications for
construction projects.

Heritage Conservation
Provide traditional materials analysis following the international standards on site, site laboratory and central laboratories. Provide traditional materials specifications for conservation, restoration and reconstruction of cultural heritage. Conduct condition surveys and provide consultation on conservation and adaptive reuse plans. Provide consultation on Planning Historic Centres. Utilize the consultancy of international experts and organizations in designated projects as required.

In addition to the Engineering Cluster SRA has a Medical and Biomedical centres of Excellence and signed many MOU’s with Local and International organizations.