Latest news with #CorporateInnovationSummit
Zawya
27-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar, Sweden forge strategic innovation partnership
Doha, Qatar: To foster a strategic innovation partnership between Qatar and Sweden, a Swedish delegation explores Qatar's tech scene, coinciding with the Web Summit Qatar 2025. They intend to leverage the high potential for forging sustainability partnerships, driven by innovation and knowledge exchange between the two countries. Swedish Ambassador to Qatar, H E Gautam Bhattacharyya, and members of the Swedish delegation shared insights with The Peninsula about the visit and potential areas of collaboration in the tech sector between Qatar and Sweden. 'The timing is perfect right now for this serious delegation from Sweden to visit Qatar and explore the opportunities for both investment and business, as well as for establishing a presence here. I believe this is truly the opportune moment. We can see the relationship between the two countries maturing. While we've had delegations and contacts before, now things are becoming more concrete,' said Ambassador Bhattacharyya. 'The relationship has been very strong over the past year, especially after the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's visit to Sweden and the recent visit of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden to Qatar, along with several other exchanges in between. This reflects the growing ties between Qatar and Sweden. Sweden brings technology and innovation, while Qatar has the resources and infrastructure to support growth. It's a perfect match,' he added. During H H the Amir's visit to Sweden in 2024, a MoU was established between SISP and the QRDI Council, focusing on collaboration in innovative start-ups and incubation. The visit of the Swedish delegation is considered as a first step towards implementing the MoU and the delegation includes members from Swedish Incubators and Science Parks (SISP), Scania VC, five startups, and Ideon Science Park. The delegation mets with representatives including from Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI), Qatar Science and Technology Park, business leaders, and university representatives. SISP is a network supporting innovation-driven startups, while Ignite Sweden fosters collaboration between startups and large corporations to drive innovation and growth. They also met with participants at the Corporate Innovation Summit and the Web Summit Qatar 2025, which is arguably the largest startup gathering in the Middle East with the participation of 1,520 startups and 723 investors. On Wednesday at the Web Summit Qatar 2025, QRDI Council hosted a session 'Qatar & Sweden: Powering Deep Tech Innovation,' in collaboration with Ignite Sweden dedicated to creating stronger connections between Qatar's startup scene, established companies, and public organisations. 'This is the first step in exploring Qatar's tech scene and ecosystem,' said VP, Philanthropy and International Collaboration at SISP, Sasan Shaba. Reflecting on the rapid growth and transformation of the technology and innovation landscape in countries across the Middle East he highlighted the importance of Qatar. 'Sweden is a small, smart country, and Qatar is a small, smart country. We see ourselves as a gateway to Europe, and we view Qatar as a gateway to the region. Qatar is highly focused, and once you establish relationships, the connections are made quickly,' he said. According to Shaba, Qatar has the potential to collaborate with Sweden's solutions in areas such as climate tech, sustainability, AI, digital solutions, life sciences or medtech, and industrial technologies like predictive maintenance and AI connected to sensor technologies. Speaking about the role of startups in the delegation, Shaba explained that after exploring opportunities, the next step is to facilitate tailored, need-based matchmaking between Qatari corporates and Swedish startups. 'The focus here is on the startups accompanying us, which are looking for investment opportunities, pilot projects, joint ventures, and partnerships. These could be in areas like R&D or universities, but also in other types of commercial deals,' he said. 'The ultimate goal of the matchmaking process—which is being carried out by our subsidiary, Ignite Sweden, due to their tailored and highly successful process—is to create commercial collaborations between Qatari corporates and Swedish startups,' he added. Graphmatech is one of the startups in the delegation and it is a material technology company from Sweden that invents, develops, and supplies novel materials for sustainable industrial scale. Graphmatech and AiSciA Informatics, a Qatar-based AI-driven decarbonization startup and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) spin-off have signed a MoU yesterday to accelerate sustainable materials innovation. By combining Graphmatech's graphene expertise with AiSciA's AI-powered materials discovery, the MoU will drive advancements in energy, packaging, and construction. Graphmatech will explore integrating AiSciA's AI solutions, while AiSciA will introduce Graphmatech's technologies to Qatar and the GCC. 'We can offer our solution to existing businesses and enable the development or co-development of new technologies here in the region. Essentially, we are looking for partners with whom we can innovate, develop, and manufacture locally. At the Web Summit Qatar 2025, we aimed to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about innovation and eager to push the boundaries of existing technologies to reach new heights,' said Founder of Graphmatech, Taher. Scania, a Swedish global leader known for its innovation, sustainability, and efficient transport solutions, has had a presence in the region since the 1970s and Qatar since 2005. The company is now exploring opportunities in the innovation sector. "We have a long history in the commercial space, but now we also want to be part of the innovation hub,' said Head of Venture Capital and M&A, Ventures, and New Business at Scania, Jessica Persson. Persson emphasised the importance of partnerships between countries, industries, academia, corporations, and startups. Regarding Qatar, she said, 'There is a perfect opportunity to combine the entire ecosystem—the academia, the universities, the startups, the governmental agencies, and the corporations. I believe this will allow us to offer commercialization and evaluate what works, and what doesn't, on the global market. We can help provide market access to the rest of the world.' © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
20-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
QRDI Council sets agenda for Web Summit Qatar 2025
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council has unveiled an exciting and comprehensive agenda for the upcoming Web Summit Qatar, set to take place from February 23 to 26, 2025. As both a strategic partner of the Web Summit Qatar and the exclusive partner of the Corporate Innovation Summit, QRDI Council has curated a series of dynamic and engaging activities for attendees. Including panel discussions, presentations, and knowledge-sharing sessions hosted at QRDI Council's pavilion, located at E202, designed to provide an immersive, interactive experience. QRDI Council's Secretary-General, Omar Al Ansari, will participate in a key panel discussion on the Innovation Ecosystem. This session will explore the current landscape of science, technology and innovation in Qatar, focusing on how the ecosystem is evolving to drive economic diversification and foster cutting-edge advancements. "The Web Summit Qatar represents a unique opportunity for QRDI Council to showcase Qatar's role as a global hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development," said the Secretary General of the QRDI Council, Omar Al Ansari. "We are excited to engage with local and international experts and stakeholders as we continue to shape the future of innovation in Qatar and beyond." The QRDI Council's Innovation Pavilion will feature high-impact sessions, showcasing a dynamic lineup of local and international experts in research, development, and innovation (RDI). Among the distinguished contributors are sessions led by the Qatar Financial Centre, the Qatar Investment Authority and the Indian Embassy in Doha and many more. Additionally, Ogilvy will host a session at the Pavilion titled 'Data is Power: Converting Browsers to Brand Lovers.' QRDI Council is also gearing up to launch and present several key programs aimed at enhancing Qatar's innovation ecosystem and supporting the country's broader economic vision. The Council's pavilion will serve as a platform for thought leadership, knowledge exchange, and networking opportunities where participants can gain insights into how the QRDI Council is committed to building a strong RDI ecosystem in Qatar. About QRDI Council QRDI Council is a government entity with the mission to support research, development and innovation activities as well as to develop RDI talent in Qatar. The Council strives to make Qatar a top destination for global talent and a pioneering research, innovation, and development hub with its motto 'locally empowered, globally connected'. Playing a pivotal role within the Qatar National Development Strategy, the QRDI Council is actively shaping the Innovation component of the Economic Diversification goal. The Council's commitment underlines its unwavering dedication to the Qatar National Vision 2030. QRDI Council aims to make Qatar a global innovation hub and a top choice for R&D centers worldwide, seeing RDI as vital for Qatar's growth and prosperity. To delve deeper into QRDI Council's endeavors and vision:
Zawya
06-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
QRDI Council: Strategic partner at Web Summit Qatar 2025 & Lead Partner of Corporate Innovation Summit
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council is once again serving as a strategic partner with Web Summit Qatar. Building on the successful collaboration from last year, QRDI Council is also continuing its exclusive partnership with the Corporate Innovation Summit. This prestigious, high-level event, held prior to Web Summit Qatar, is bringing together visionary leaders from the world's most forward-thinking corporations for an intimate and engaging experience. The QRDI Council is set to showcase its programs and projects at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), where a diverse group of attendees from various sectors will be gathered. The Council's pavilion, located at E202, is returning as a prominent hub for international entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders. This space will not only highlight cutting-edge initiatives in collaboration with local and international partners but will also serve as a dynamic networking and knowledge-sharing space. Throughout the event, attendees can engage in speaker sessions and discussions encouraging the growth across Qatar's thriving innovation ecosystem. The pavilion will offer a platform for startups, talent, and leaders to exchange insights, form new connections, and build meaningful partnerships that contribute to Qatar's 2030 vision. The Corporate Innovation Summit brings together leaders and innovators at the forefront of tech's biggest companies to confront the issues facing the business world today. The Summit offers a one-day networking experience, featuring masterclasses and opportunities to connect with pioneers shaping the future of enterprise in the 21st century. It can be expected to have roundtables, exclusive networking opportunities, and insights from leaders. Providing attendees with invaluable knowledge driving change across industries, while encouraging meaningful connections with like-minded professionals. Web Summit Qatar, the MENA region's first-ever Web Summit, is set to welcome over 20,000 attendees, including 500+ investors and more than 1,250 startups selected from countries across the globe, representing a wide range of industries. The event will also be featuring exhibitors from more than 150 partners, including QRDI Council, Meta, Qatar Airways, Microsoft, and many more. About QRDI Council QRDI Council is a government entity with the mission to support research, development and innovation (RDI) activities as well as to develop RDI talent in Qatar. The Council strives to make Qatar a top destination for global talent and a pioneering research, innovation, and development hub with its motto 'locally empowered, globally connected'. Playing a pivotal role within the Qatar National Development Strategy, the QRDI Council is actively shaping the Innovation component of the Economic Diversification goal. The Council's commitment underlines its unwavering dedication to the Qatar National Vision 2030. QRDI Council aims to make Qatar a global innovation hub and a top choice for R&D centers worldwide, seeing RDI as vital for Qatar's growth and prosperity. To delve deeper into QRDI Council's endeavors and vision:
