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Research, development and innovation are the cornerstones of Qatar Foundation – and the roots of the organisation’s commitment to fostering it stretch back more than 25 years ago to the point of its establishment.
Qatar Foundation (QF) aimed to foster a new culture of scientific research in Qatar, with the aim of making the country a hub for research and innovation, and a destination for scientists across the Arab world who would contribute to building physical and intellectual infrastructure that could benefit the public and private sectors in Qatar and across the region. From its beginnings, QF has believed that science, research and innovation are a vital pillar in building a sustainable, diversified economy; one in which researchers and innovators can develop pioneering solutions that address national challenges while also having the potential for global impact.
But how did QF’s leadership anticipate tomorrow, and respond to this by creating Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar National Research Fund, national research institutes and a series of initiatives and programs that drive innovative breakthroughs and inspire people within and beyond Qatar to be part of this new RDI culture?
During The Untold Stories of Qatar Foundation, Engineer AbdulRedha AbdulRahman, who played an instrumental role in the establishment of QSTP, said: “The idea of ??Qatar Science & Technology Park was born from the name of the institution of which it would be part: Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.
“I began to think about the importance of community development, and having an educated Qatari society that conceived innovative ideas grounded in the reality of current and future needs. We recognised that we needed quality education to meet the aspirations of the community in Qatar.
“So, when thinking about QF, community development forms the base of the triangle, education is the second side, and research is the third side that completes the QF triangle.”
Engineer AbdulRahman explained how the RDI landscape that QF created came from realisation of Qatar’s need for research focusing on gas-related technology, and converting liquified natural gas into materials that could add economic and intellectual value.
“We emphasised the importance of creating a destination for innovation, both for researchers and graduates of Education City universities, where academic professors and scientists would work side by side with graduates and students, especially in the field of chemical engineering,” he said. “The aim was to conduct research related to the production of materials that could generate economic benefit and added value for Qatar and its people.
“To build this model, we visited several science and technology parks that were in the process of development, in order to assess what we need while always considering the vision for QF. We travelled to scientific facilities in the US state of North Carolina; the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the UK and Virginia Commonwealth University in the US. And at that time, we realised that we were moving in the right direction towards the localisation of knowledge, because we were looking to promote a culture of innovation in Qatar in order to meet our national needs.”
The importance of QF’s innovation TV show Stars of Science in this process of RDI culture-building was also emphasized during The Untold Stories of Qatar Foundation. Launched in 2009, its aim was to empower a new generation of Arab innovators, with its creation reflecting the popularity of ‘reality’ TV programmes among the region’s youth.
Speakers also addressed QF’s role as an incubator for innovators and scientists from throughout the Arab world, who have become part of the RDI community that the organization has built.
HE Dr Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad highlighted how QF’s outputs in RDI have helped to underpin the sustainable development of Qatar, saying: “The relationship between QF and national institutions is close and integrated, because QF was established to support the development process of the country.
“For example, QF provides support to national institutions within the health sector, as there are many joint projects and research between QF partner universities and institutions such as Qatar University and Hamad Medical Corporation; and continuous cooperation with ministries.
“QF’s goal is to bring about positive change in order to achieve sustainable development goals, and this is manifested in how it supports the work of national institutions through joint initiatives and projects that continue to this day.”
Qatar Foundation (QF) aimed to foster a new culture of scientific research in Qatar, with the aim of making the country a hub for research and innovation, and a destination for scientists across the Arab world who would contribute to building physical and intellectual infrastructure that could benefit the public and private sectors in Qatar and across the region. From its beginnings, QF has believed that science, research and innovation are a vital pillar in building a sustainable, diversified economy; one in which researchers and innovators can develop pioneering solutions that address national challenges while also having the potential for global impact.
But how did QF’s leadership anticipate tomorrow, and respond to this by creating Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar National Research Fund, national research institutes and a series of initiatives and programs that drive innovative breakthroughs and inspire people within and beyond Qatar to be part of this new RDI culture?
During The Untold Stories of Qatar Foundation, Engineer AbdulRedha AbdulRahman, who played an instrumental role in the establishment of QSTP, said: “The idea of ??Qatar Science & Technology Park was born from the name of the institution of which it would be part: Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.
“I began to think about the importance of community development, and having an educated Qatari society that conceived innovative ideas grounded in the reality of current and future needs. We recognised that we needed quality education to meet the aspirations of the community in Qatar.
“So, when thinking about QF, community development forms the base of the triangle, education is the second side, and research is the third side that completes the QF triangle.”
Engineer AbdulRahman explained how the RDI landscape that QF created came from realisation of Qatar’s need for research focusing on gas-related technology, and converting liquified natural gas into materials that could add economic and intellectual value.
“We emphasised the importance of creating a destination for innovation, both for researchers and graduates of Education City universities, where academic professors and scientists would work side by side with graduates and students, especially in the field of chemical engineering,” he said. “The aim was to conduct research related to the production of materials that could generate economic benefit and added value for Qatar and its people.
“To build this model, we visited several science and technology parks that were in the process of development, in order to assess what we need while always considering the vision for QF. We travelled to scientific facilities in the US state of North Carolina; the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the UK and Virginia Commonwealth University in the US. And at that time, we realised that we were moving in the right direction towards the localisation of knowledge, because we were looking to promote a culture of innovation in Qatar in order to meet our national needs.”
The importance of QF’s innovation TV show Stars of Science in this process of RDI culture-building was also emphasized during The Untold Stories of Qatar Foundation. Launched in 2009, its aim was to empower a new generation of Arab innovators, with its creation reflecting the popularity of ‘reality’ TV programmes among the region’s youth.
Speakers also addressed QF’s role as an incubator for innovators and scientists from throughout the Arab world, who have become part of the RDI community that the organization has built.
HE Dr Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad highlighted how QF’s outputs in RDI have helped to underpin the sustainable development of Qatar, saying: “The relationship between QF and national institutions is close and integrated, because QF was established to support the development process of the country.
“For example, QF provides support to national institutions within the health sector, as there are many joint projects and research between QF partner universities and institutions such as Qatar University and Hamad Medical Corporation; and continuous cooperation with ministries.
“QF’s goal is to bring about positive change in order to achieve sustainable development goals, and this is manifested in how it supports the work of national institutions through joint initiatives and projects that continue to this day.”
