The MDO reminds me of the CSIRO in terms of what has been done for the science and research fields in Australia over many years. (lets keep the political stuff out of it)
The primary purpose of the Advisory Council of Science and Industry, the Institute of Science and Industry and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) remained consistent and this purpose continues largely unchanged in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to this day. That is, to initiate and conduct scientific research to assist in the development of the primary and secondary industries of Australia: farming, mining and manufacturing being the focus in the early years. Over the following decades, we've expanded our activities to almost every field of primary, secondary and tertiary industry, including the environment, human nutrition, conservation, urban and rural planning, and water.
Apologies if I seem a bit off track, and I know we are talking chalk and cheese in terms of the initial mining industry, but when a government body establishes an arm to promote and develop and industry, then the CSIRO model is a good one to look at. I see the MDO being designed along the same models and this is the beginning of much bigger things in Oman. Likewise I see the same being opened up in kSA over time as they develop their 5 pillars.
