QRDI, Qatar Airways sign pact to accelerate innovation in aviation
QNA
Doha
Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council and Qatar Airways have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the second day of the Qatar Economic Forum, aimed at accelerating innovation in aviation, transport, and logistics, while enhancing Qatar's global competitiveness in these critical sectors.
The agreement was formally signed by Secretary-General of the QRDI Council Omar Al Ansari and Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Eng. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, marking an important step in fostering impactful collaboration between two of Qatar's leading entities.
Commenting on the announcement, Al Ansari said, 'This MoU establishes a strong foundation for Qatar to emerge as a global hub for transformative innovation. Through this collaboration, we aim to attract world-leading partners, accelerate the deployment of high-impact technologies, and elevate national innovation clusters to global prominence, contributing meaningfully to the goals outlined in the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3).'
For his part, Al Meer said, 'Qatar Airways Group's has consistently been recognised as an innovation leader, with a strong commitment for redefining the benchmarks of excellence in the aviation industry. This partnership represents a strategic cornerstone in our diverse and vibrant innovation partner ecosystem. It will accelerate our digital transformation, putting us even further ahead of our competition and making us even more synonymous with keeping innovation at the heart of whatever we do at Qatar Airways.'
He added that the MoU 'creates a transformative opportunity to contribute towards elevating the nation's position on the global innovation index and firmly establishing Qatar as the preferred global hub of the Aviation Tech industry by providing fertile ground to develop, test and scale innovative next-generation solutions.'
The agreement establishes a structured and phased approach to collaboration, focusing on the development of an innovation cluster around the aviation, transport, and logistics sectors. The strategic framework includes transformational innovation, challenge-driven initiatives, and the integration of artificial intelligence and digital innovation as key enablers for future projects.
The partnership also aims to ensure strategic alignment with the objectives of Qatar's Third National Development Strategy (NDS3), with a focus on strengthening priority industries, fostering local innovation, and contributing to sustainable economic growth through targeted investments, funding, and innovation policies.
The partnership also represents a significant milestone in both organisations' commitment to placing innovation at the core of national development and ultimately aims to elevate Qatar's position in the global innovation index.
Having this partnership solidified at the Qatar Economic Forum reinforces its strategic importance and reflects a shared vision to drive Qatar's innovation-led future on a global scale.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
QBA, CMU-Q sign MoU to boost education, research
Satyendra Pathak Doha In a major step toward fostering a knowledge-driven economy and advancing Qatar's National Vision 2030, the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) have signed a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will deepen cooperation in the fields of education, scientific research, entrepreneurship, and community development. Held in Doha, the press briefing accompanying the signing ceremony emphasised the broad and strategic nature of the agreement, which aims to link academic excellence with real-world economic impact through initiatives in training, internships, public policy research, business innovation, SME support, and digital transformation. Addressing the media, QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani reiterated QBA's unwavering commitment to supporting the nation's talent pipeline and fostering collaboration between the business and academic sectors. Sheikh Faisal said, 'Through this partnership with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, we aim to strengthen research and innovation in alignment with the Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030. This collaboration will serve to enhance the private sector's productivity and competitiveness by integrating research-based solutions.' He also stressed the role of educational institutions in nurturing globally competitive talent, adding that strategic partnerships like this are instrumental in bridging the gap between academic theory and economic practice. 'This MoU helps us move beyond dialogue to action. It's about creating pathways for students to engage with our member companies and for our companies to benefit from the latest research and thinking coming out of CMU-Q,' Sheikh Faisal said. Dean of CMU-Q Michael Trick underscored the multifaceted goals of the MoU, highlighting its emphasis on entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and the importance of building direct industry-academic bridges. 'We are planning to focus significantly on entrepreneurship, especially as Qatar becomes more welcoming to startups. The Qatari Businessmen Association's support is essential to making these companies more visible and viable,' Trick said. He noted that while CMU-Q is best known for its programmes in business, information systems, and computer science, it is the synergy between technology and entrepreneurship that will drive Qatar's private sector forward. 'It's not just the business programme. The entrepreneurial aspects of our Information Systems and Computer Science programmes are very strong,' he added. 'This is where the QBA can have a broader impact—not just on our business students, but across disciplines.' The collaboration will also focus on supporting Qatar's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), aligning with national goals to digitise the economy and increase the competitiveness of the local business ecosystem. 'Our Information Systems programme is well positioned to work with organisations at all levels, particularly SMEs,' Trick stated. 'The potential for impact here is enormous.' The agreement outlines internships, guest lectures, and student mentoring as key components, but Trick emphasised that the relationship with QBA goes beyond just job placements. 'We don't need an MoU just for internships,' he noted. 'What we seek is a broader engagement—one where QBA members interact with our students, mentor them, and importantly, hire them. This is how we ensure our graduates have a direct impact on Qatar's economy.' When asked about graduate retention, Trick proudly shared that 93 percent of CMU-Q students who enter the job market stay in Qatar for their first job—a strong testament to the university's alignment with national development goals. According to statements shared during the press briefing, the MoU also envisions collaboration on publishing joint economic reports, organising business development workshops, and holding industry-specific conferences that will elevate private-sector awareness and driveinnovation. A representative from QBA noted that this academic-business collaboration 'will not only raise awareness among business leaders but will also promote strategic thinking and innovation, hand-in-hand with academia.' CMU-Q's student body is composed of both local and international students, many of whom choose to remain and contribute to Qatar's economy after graduation. 'Roughly 20 percent of our students come from outside the country, but thanks to the Qatar Foundation's support and the welcoming environment, many choose to stay,' Trick said. 'We're proud to say that we are not just educating Qatar's youth—we are attracting the world's best and integrating them into the future of this country.'
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Justice Ministry, UNITAR partner on advanced legal training
QNA Doha The Ministry of Justice on Monday signed an agreement with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to organise an advanced training program aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the legal sector in Qatar. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice Saeed bin Abdullah Al Suwaidi and UNITAR Executive Director Michelle Gyles-McDonnough signed the deal. The program will be implemented in two phases in the State of Qatar. The first phase aims to educate participants about various legal challenges and introduce them to opportunities for innovation and keeping pace with developments in justice and technology through comprehensive and integrated training workshops. The second phase will focus on assessing participants' innovative potential and enhancing the knowledge acquired during the first phase, through organizing a dedicated hackathon. A statement issued by the Ministry of Justice clarified that the launch of this program is part of the Ministry's 2025–2030 strategy, which prioritises the development of the training sector in line with Qatar National Vision 2030's human development pillar and the Third National Development Strategy that supports this direction. The statement added that the program will offer the legal sector in the country the opportunity to benefit from artificial intelligence applications and the effective tools provided by technology to address the complex challenges facing the world. It noted that integrating technology into the legal system will help enhance efficiency, improve access to justice, and promote transparency—supporting the principles of swift and effective justice. The statement also emphasized that the active participation of youth, along with public-private partnerships, has become essential, given the digital competencies and innovative perspectives this group brings—contributing to the development of legal solutions that align with the evolving needs of society. It highlighted the importance of aligning legal frameworks with technological advancement as a necessary step to ensure the evolution of the rule of law in parallel with societal transformations. It stressed that the integration of justice, technology, youth, and modern rule of law is no longer optional, but a necessity for building a resilient legal system capable of meeting the dynamic needs of society.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Justice ministry, UNITAR partner to deliver advanced legal training programme
DOHA: The Ministry of Justice has signed an agreement with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to organise an advanced training programme aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the legal sector in the State of Qatar. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice HE Saeed bin Abdullah Al Suwaidi, and UNITAR Executive Director Michelle Gyles-McDonnough signed the deal. The programme will be implemented in two phases in the State of Qatar. The first phase aims to educate participants about various legal challenges and introduce them to opportunities for innovation and keeping pace with developments in justice and technology through comprehensive and integrated training workshops. The second phase will focus on assessing participants' innovative potential and enhancing the knowledge acquired during the first phase, through organizing a dedicated hackathon. A statement issued by the Ministry of Justice clarified that the launch of this program is part of the Ministry's 2025–2030 strategy, which prioritizes the development of the training sector in line with Qatar National Vision 2030's human development pillar and the Third National Development Strategy that supports this direction. The statement added that the program will offer the legal sector in the country the opportunity to benefit from artificial intelligence applications and the effective tools provided by technology to address the complex challenges facing the world. It noted that integrating technology into the legal system will help enhance efficiency, improve access to justice, and promote transparency—supporting the principles of swift and effective justice. The statement also emphasized that the active participation of youth, along with public-private partnerships, has become essential, given the digital competencies and innovative perspectives this group brings—contributing to the development of legal solutions that align with the evolving needs of society. It highlighted the importance of aligning legal frameworks with technological advancement as a necessary step to ensure the evolution of the rule of law in parallel with societal transformations. It stressed that the integration of justice, technology, youth, and modern rule of law is no longer optional, but a necessity for building a resilient legal system capable of meeting the dynamic needs of society.
