As part of diverse efforts to diversify its economy, Qatar is betting on its growing credentials as a hub of innovation, with the public and private sectors joining forces to promote new technologies and solutions.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the growing metropolis of Doha. New urban developments such as Msheireb Downtown Doha are combining the latest smart city and green building technology. Indeed, this area of the capital has established itself as the beating heart of the city when it comes to innovation.
The authorities see developments such as Msheireb Downtown Doha as key playgrounds for the implementation of new technologies and programs. At a local level, it is transformational, but Doha also has an eye on international cooperation as it seeks dynamic economic and human development.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), an example of this can be found in the growing trade relationship between the GCC and China, where “the relationship between the two is centered around mutual opportunity and innovation and is paramount for investors seeking to capitalize on the intersection of tradition and transformation.”
Nonetheless, further local efforts remain crucial to bolstering innovation within Qatar. Seeking to position Qatar as a global leader in innovation and scientific research, With the objective of promoting the country’s role as a global participant in innovation and scientific research, the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council plays a fundamental role in the country’s economic diversification efforts as well as the growth of Qatar’s entrepreneurial and knowledge-generating ecosystems. With an openness to collaboration and new ideas, QRDI Council is at the forefront of Qatar’s efforts to develop and invest in new technologies.
In July 2024, QRDI Council partnered with Qatar Airways to create innovative solutions for the airline, now one of the region’s most prestigious. The objective of this collaboration is to implement “proposals from start-ups, SMEs, and corporations for technologies that provide smart work scheduling and staff allocation [solutions].” According to the project spokespeople, “the tool [will] enable the rapid allocation of resources and plan aircraft maintenance whilst ensuring resources match the skill, aircraft type, and job competency.”
Initiatives such as these and the prospects they offer for new and stronger cooperation at a local and international level will be covered at the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference 2024: Investing in the Future, to be held on November 20, 2024 at Barahat Msheireb. The event will be hosted by The Business Year (TBY), a global media group that has been providing investors, businesses, and governments with first-hand insights into the world’s most dynamic markets for over 15 years.
Through the expertise of local key stakeholders such as Msheireb Properties and the experience of The Business Year, attendees to the event will have the opportunity to better understand the role that every player in the business ecosystem can play in cultivating innovation. Through the insights of local and international decision makers and leaders, the discussions and panels are set to provide first-hand knowledge on the strategic ways in which economic and human development go hand-by-hand with innovative solutions.
Adding to the partnership with Msheireb Properties, The Business Year has confirmed the participation of QRDI Council as the event’s innovation sponsor, guaranteeing the inclusion of one of the country’s innovation ecosystem’s main stakeholders and driving forces.
Other key players in the country’s business environment will also be a part of the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference. Companies with ample experience in implementing new solutions such as Suhail Industries Holding Group, a leader in devising groundbreaking engineering and manufacturing processes, will attend the event. Through its industrial operations, the group has opened new investment opportunities for Qatar in manufacturing, paving the way for the country to progressively establish itself as a regional manufacturing hub.
As business leaders from Qatar and across the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE, gather, the event will explore how innovation, investment, and sustainability intersect to drive regional economic development, A key focus for the event will be to emphasize the importance of cross-border collaboration and coordination among all regional partners.
The Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference 2024: Investing in the Future will also serve as an opener to The Business Year’s upcoming tenth annual economic report, The Business Year: Qatar 2025.
With a focus on Qatar’s third National Development Strategy, the event will deepen the business ecosystem’s understanding of where the current opportunities lie, new ways to foster collaboration, and innovative methods to implement sustainable measures within its operations while transcending borders.