Tribune News Network
Doha
Ibtechar, an award-winning innovation agency based in Doha, has announced the launch of two new service offerings: Ibtechar Academy and Ibtechar Consultancy. The announcement was made at a media conference held on January 9 at the Chedi Katara Hotel in Doha, attended by representatives from major Qatari media outlets.
CEO and Co-founder, Eng. Nayef Al-Ibrahim, presented the new services, outlining how they will support organisations and individuals in developing and implementing a sustained culture of innovation.
Ibtechar Academy focuses on delivering specialised training programmes in areas such as digital upskilling, innovation methodologies, and personal development. Ibtechar Consultancy works with organisations to embed innovation into their culture, strategy, and operations.
Eng. Al-Ibrahim detailed the services offered, referencing Ibtechar’s partnerships with the Global Innovation Institute (GInI) and UQ, and highlighting their work across diverse sectors in Qatar. He also showcased Ibtechar’s history of innovation, including the development and management of innovation spaces, their work with Barzan Holdings, and their recognition by the World Economic Forum.
With the floor open to questions, Eng. Al-Ibrahim took the opportunity to engage with individual journalists on Ibtechar’s story so far, and plans for the future. Highlights from the Q&A session are presented below.
Q: How does Ibtechar tailor its services to clients’ needs?
“We customise our solutions by first understanding the client’s needs through an innovation maturity assessment. This helps us determine whether they want to develop internal innovation capabilities or outsource them. We’ve supported entities in both scenarios. For example, we helped Barzan Holdings develop a drone tracking project by outsourcing to an existing company. In other cases, we help entities build internal competency through tailored programmes, hubs (like incubation labs), and other resources. ”
Q: Are there any plans to expand in the region?
“While we see high demand in the open market, especially with the rise of innovation officers and government initiatives, our priority is fulfilling requirements in Doha for now. Our focus is on helping public, private and third-sector organisations here to enhance their services, products, or internal procedures. Regional expansion is something we have in mind for the future.”
Q: What has been a pivotal moment for the company?
“Every year has its moments. Founding Ibtechar was a proud moment for me. The first day we moved into our offices was a big one. The first day we secured funding was another. And of course the establishment of our new service areas, which we’ve showcased today. Each moment has a unique value.”
Q: What kind of courses does Ibtechar Academy offer? Who can join?
“Our services are primarily B2B and B2G. Ibtechar Academy specialises in end-to-end technology training. Our expertise lies in technology development, covering areas like language learning, cybersecurity, and AR/VR. We focus on developing innovative solutions.”
Q: It seems your clients are mainly organisations or government entities. Do you target universities, given your training programmes?
“Universities are a potential target audience. Our client base is primarily organisations and government entities due to our focus and engagement model. However, we have worked with universities, such as Qatar University, where we developed an innovation lab for their international innovation centre.”
Q: What are the company’s core strengths?
“Our integrated service offering, combining content, technology, and training, is a key strength. We’ve been doing this for ten years. We specialise in technology, making it easy to adapt to new technologies and customise training quickly. We also have proven experience in designing, supplying, and operating digital labs. In Ibtechar Consultancy, our ability to design, supply, and operate labs for different sectors is a unique strength. This has allowed us to build a strong service line supporting innovation in the market.”
Q: How does the company cope with evolving obligations and market demands?
“Every year brings new trends. Our focus is on adapting quickly and understanding the objectives behind those trends. This informs how we integrate new developments into our content and training programmes.”
Q: Can you elaborate on the company’s growth from a small company to achieving a 100 million milestone?
“It’s been a team effort. It took us ten years to reach this point. Growing from a small local company to achieving this figure demonstrates our dynamism and our credibility in the market — and we’re excited to see what the next ten years will bring.”
