Qatar: QRDI Council launches Small Business Innovation Grant for early-stage ventures
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council launched the Small Business Innovation Grant (SBIG) during the second day of Web Summit Qatar 2025.
The announcement was made amidst a busy schedule at the QRDI Pavilion, which hosted a variety of sessions from entities across different sectors, showcasing Qatar's innovation-driven initiatives.
This new grant programme is designed to support early-stage ventures by accelerating innovation and enhancing research and development (RDI) activities within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Nada Al Olaqi, Senior Program Director-Innovation Development and Piloting Programs at QRDI Council said, 'This initiative represents an important step in enhancing the SME ecosystem in Qatar. By providing SME's and startups with the necessary resources and support', she added, 'We are working to provide an incubating environment that helps innovation flourish, helping these companies grow and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the State of Qatar, and we look forward to seeing the creative and impactful solutions that this program will offer, reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading global destination in Qatar. Innovation Sector.'
The 'SME and Startup Business Development Grant' aligns with the mission of the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council to drive the innovation agenda and promote economic diversification. It aims to reduce the investment risks associated with the development of technology in SMEs and startups, as well as their entry into the market. The grant also seeks to enhance the readiness of new products and services developed by companies, accelerating technology commercialization. Ultimately, it aims to contribute to the diversification of the economy by generating R&D-based revenue for small and medium-sized businesses. QRDI Council is committed to intensifying R&D and innovation activities within Qatar's business sector, a key element in achieving the country's sustainable economic development goals.
Through tailored funding and incentives, the QRDI Council aims to promote economic diversification and drive the commercialization of technologies in key sectors such as medical and healthcare, logistics and transportation, smart cities, and creativity, arts, and tourism. Therefore, QRDI's goal is to support small businesses that are actively conducting research, development, and innovation (RDI) with a clear path towards commercialization, helping them scale their solutions and meet global demand.
Those interested in applying for this scholarship can visit the Innolight platform to learn more about the scholarship and the application schedule.
© Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
7 hours ago
- Zawya
AFC says Africa has $4trln local capital available to fund infrastructure
African governments should turn to an estimated $4 trillion in capital held by domestic institutions like pension funds to develop much-needed local infrastructure as external funding sources wane, the Africa Finance Corporation said on Thursday. Building railways and expanding power generation are major priorities for the continent as its population and economies grow, but traditional sources of funding such as foreign direct investment and official development assistance are proving "increasingly insufficient", the AFC said. Higher interest rates globally, declining donor budgets and protectionist policies in advanced economies are further tightening the availability of funds, it said in the report. "These developments underscore Africa's need for a more resilient and internally anchored financing strategy," the financier, which is owned by African governments, multilateral lenders and private funds, said. African governments are also struggling to find space within national budgets to pay for development projects as interest payments gobble up an ever-rising share, the report said. They can however turn to the potentially trillions of dollars in domestic capital held by sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and central and commercial banks, it added. These are currently held by institutions or invested in short-term liquid instruments like money markets due to legal restrictions on where assets such as pension funds can be invested, it added in the report. To unlock these funds, African governments will have to modernise huge swathes of their economies that are not taxed and regulated, and reform the rules around pension funds to allow them to invest in long-term infrastructure projects, AFC said. They will also need to boost national savings rates, which on average stand at half those of Asian nations, it added. The African Development Bank, a shareholder in AFC, has pegged Africa's annual financing gap for structural transformation at more than $400 billion, or nearly 14% of the continent's projected GDP by 2030. (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Zawya
Sumou Real Estate pens $150mln deal for Sedco Capital's project
Riyadh – Sumou Real Estate Company inked a SAR 562.47 million contract with Sedco Capital Sumou Al Muqarr Fund, represented by Jawharat Al Ghura Real Estate Development Company The company will implement the infrastructure and superstructure works for Sedco Capital's project in Madinah, with a total area of 268.78 million square meters, according to a bourse filing. The agreement, which was penned on 3 June, holds a duration period of 24 months starting from the date of issuance of the project permit by the Real Estate General Authority. Sumou Real Estate highlighted that the development scheme will have a positive impact on its results starting from the commencement date of the project's execution. Last May, the Tadawul-listed firm sealed a SAR 680 million development agreement with National Housing Company (NHC) for areem Makkah project.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Emirates Stallions Group builds on real estate success with launch of Royal Development Holding
Emirates Stallions Group, a leading UAE conglomerate and a subsidiary of International Holding Company, has launched Royal Development Holding, a boutique real estate developer aiming to evolve spaces and elevate lives. As part of its launch, Royal Development Holding unifies a group of specialized real estate development entities including Royal Development Company (RDC) and Royal Architect Project Management (RAPM), while paving the way for the introduction of new companies that will further strengthen its market presence and capabilities. The launch of Royal Development Holding marks a new era for the Group, enabling it to enhance its presence in the real estate value chain. By adding boutique real estate development capabilities, ESG strengthens its offerings to provide comprehensive, end-to-end solutions that elevate living experiences and support its long-term growth strategy. Kayed Ali Khorma, CEO of ESG, stated: 'Our subsidiary Royal Development Company has been the trusted force behind managing over 60 iconic projects in more than 15 countries across the globe enriching our expertise in the real estate sector. We are now evolving the Royal Development name and scope of work by launching Royal Development Holding, a visionary boutique developer that will build lifestyle-driven communities to nurture growth, transform the everyday experience, and shape the future of living.' In today's crowded real estate landscape, developers are racing towards creating integrated, intelligent, and inspiring communities that respond to the changing needs of society, provide futureproof living solutions and foster a sense of belonging. With Royal Development Holding stepping into the spotlight as a forward-thinking boutique developer, it underlines a solid commitment to shaping ecosystems that offer a blend of functionality, well-being, and sustainability, and creating vibrant developments that shape the future of intelligent and connected living. Tariq Nazzal, General Manager of Royal Development Holding, commented: 'At Royal Development Holding, we continuously enhance our performance and expand our activities by listing several of the Group's real estate development and project management companies under Royal Development Holding. This is in line with our vision of constant growth and transformation. By integrating innovation, sustainability, and creative design, we will be crafting truly transformational projects that redefine modern living and elevate lifestyles.'
