TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA THE Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) has won the bid to host the 31st International Association of Science Parks (IASP) World Conference in 2014.

The victory with a 70 percent majority came during the general assembly vote held on Tuesday at the IASP 29th World Conference in Tallinn, Estonia.

The IASP is a worldwide network of science and technology parks that connects professionals from across the globe.

QSTP ran against the Pomeranian Science & Technology Park from Poland and JSC Technopark Sistema-Sarov from Russia.

An unprecedented innovative multi-media campaign to gain the trust of all 388 IASP member organisations helped seal victory.

QSTP Managing Director Hamad al Kuwari said that QSTP looked forward to welcoming “our distinguished colleagues from science and technology organisations from around the globe to Qatar and demonstrate how QSTP has been able to make a contribution to Qatar’s journey from a carbon-based to a knowledgebased economy since its inauguration in 2009.” He congratulated the QSTP team on the success and expressed appreciation of all their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm that helped clinch the bid for 2014 conference. He said the IASP World Conference in 2014 will take place at Doha’s new cutting-edge green facility, the Qatar National Convention Centre. This will be for the first time an IASP World Conference is to be held in the Middle East.

The deciding factor in selecting QSTP as host was the role it plays in the wider dynamic scientific environment created by Qatar Foundation to support economic and human development in Qatar. (JV)