Tribune News Network Doha
Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council, in partnership with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), concluded the robust strategic product management bootcamp for entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The week-long programme ran from August 21 to August 25, 2022 with the aim to support the local economy with the required insights, tools, and techniques to develop market-ready products, services, and solutions.The bootcamp was attended by 25 participants including 11 businesses from the economic sectors of cybersecurity, digital platforms, education, textile, and e-commerce. It was the result of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by QRDI and QDB earlier this month. The joint initiative falls under the series of programmes organised by QRDI that catalyse innovation leadership by building institutional capacity for local SMEs to lead and drive technology development pilots in Qatar.Covering key topics to empower participants and drive their innovation projects, the bootcamp began with the product management fundamentals of product development cycles and alignment between products and business and customer needs. The focus of the programme also extended to product strategy, roadmap development, research and prioritisation, idea generation and design thinking. The participants were then acquainted with the intricacies of product development and launch and gained the apparatus to ensure continuous product improvement.The training week concluded with a deep dive into effective stakeholder communications and management. To foster sustained engagement, the programme also allowed for participants to become part of a product management community to network and exchange experiences and best practices with their peers.The strategic product management bootcamp is an integral part of QRDI’s vision to deliver holistic change for the research, development, and innovation ecosystem in Qatar. Faraj Jasim Abdulla, the RDI Program Manager at QRDI, said, "This collaboration between QRDI and QDB is one of the tangible building blocks in building a knowledge-based economy. Qatar has the perfect infrastructure to be a piloting hub for innovation, and this bootcamp equips SMEs with the capabilities necessary to develop their products, test them in the market and lay out their innovations globally.”Abdulla said, "Though this bootcamp targeted SMEs, QRDI’s various programmes target different segments of our economy to actualize Qatar’s National Vision 2030. We aim to empower Qatar’s innovation ecosystem to create high value jobs, develop innovative solutions, and attract and retain exceptional talent.”Mohammed Al Emadi, Acting Senior Manager of Investment of QDB, said: "Through our partnership with QRDI, the bootcamp was an exceptional opportunity for innovators to explore and expand on their entrepreneurial talents, which will positively influence the local economy at large. The bootcamp equipped the participating entrepreneurs with the tools required to succeed at national and international levels. Following the success of the bootcamp, we continue to be committed to working with key players in the market to achieve our responsibility as a financial institution and to develop the private sector through access to financial capability and markets.”Two innovation leaders from the local SMEs landscape shared their knowledge and experiences in product management with the participants. Among the speakers was Ghanim Al Sulaiti, founder of Enbat Holdings, and a seasoned entrepreneur with a variety of established and developing businesses. Sulaiti noted: "This is a fantastic initiative; it connects people on the ground with people like me who may have something to share that isn’t being taught in books. It brings like-minded people that are interested to research and puts questions out there. Places like QRDI allow for dialogue, which I believe is crucial, and is the only way to move forward.”Khalid Aboujassoum, founder and CEO of Else Labs and a passionate entrepreneur, said: "Training is very essential, as human capital development is at the core of Qatar National Vision 2030. It is great to witness QRDI and QDB working together to bring unique training such as the strategic product management bootcamp to local SMEs. Capabilities and knowledge, including product development, product management, and product strategy, are essential skills in building a strong innovation ecosystem, all of which drives Qatar’s people and its innovation ecosystem”.The QRDI Council continues to support government entities, large local enterprises (LLEs), and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through innovative programmes and workshops such as the Qatar Open Innovation programme and the ideation workshop, among others. QRDI Council members include prominent national and international figures from various government and academic entities and industry experts.