Doha, October 11 (QNA) – Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) reviewed new programs to stimulate innovation based on technology development, in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Council meeting was chaired by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Chairman of Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council, and in the presence of the members of the Council, namely: HE Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari, and HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al-Thani , HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani, HE CEO of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) Mansour Ibrahim Al-Mahmoud, and HE President of Qatar University Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, and Secretary-General of the Council Engineer Omar Ali Al Ansari.
HE Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah inaugurated the meeting by welcoming the newly joined members of the Council, and praised the distinguished efforts of HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, and CEO of the Foundation, Vice President of the Council, regarding the development of the national operating model that supports innovation and the implementation of Qatars strategy for research, development and innovation, as it is one of the important pillars of Qatars future economy based on innovation and knowledge.
HE Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah also thanked the members of the Council for their constructive cooperation and effective participation in implementing and supporting the programs and initiatives approved by the Council within the framework of the first phase 2022-2024 of the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2030 implementation plan.
During the meeting, the Council discussed the progress made in implementing the 2022 Business Plan, and Secretary-General of the Council Engineer Omar Ali Al-Ansari, gave a visual presentation in which he addressed the new package of programs to stimulate innovation based on technology development on the territory of the State of Qatar, which was started to be implemented through the launch of a program Qatar Open Innovation, in which technology development companies compete locally and globally to devise technological solutions to the opportunities available in national institutions represented by major companies and government agencies.
Qatar Open Innovation Program, in its first edition for 2022, presented broad prospects for a group of national institutions towards benefiting from the early adoption of innovative technology on the land of Qatar in order to develop their operational efficiency and enhance their competitiveness regionally and globally. The council reviewed the innovation opportunities that were announced, the beneficiaries, the most important local and international technology development companies, and the future steps for joint cooperation projects ready for implementation.
The Council discussed the importance of stimulating the building of a promising market for opportunities for early adoption of the developed technology in Qatar, in a manner that enhances the demand for innovation and scientific research system in Qatar, and stimulates the participation of local companies based on research and experimental development, as well as support for startups incubated by local universities, in addition to consolidating long and continuous cooperation between technology development companies and local universities, giving universities more opportunities to license their patents to local technology development companies (Technology Licensing), contributing to the localization of talent and specialists in the field of innovation in the business sector, and opening the door for universities to seek more help of these talents in start-ups incubated by local universities.
The Council also discussed the process of developing scientific research support programs, which aimed to enhance the link between ministries and government agencies and their benefit from scientific research outputs in developing policies and working methods, in addition to building talent and knowledge in priority sectors, as well as simplifying and accelerating the procedures and processes associated with scientific research support programs.
In this context, the Council reviewed national research programs directed towards supporting applied research and experimental development activities in its early stages directed to meet national priorities.
Academic research programs directed towards supporting research excellence in order to create and develop knowledge, enhance scientific concepts, and develop academic research talent and competencies were also reviewed, in addition to discussing joint international research programs aimed at strengthening research cooperation with international institutions, and benefiting from international expertise in priority sectors.
The Council also reviewed the launch of a package of capacity-building programs in the national system for innovation and scientific research, which included the Qatar Innovation Leaders Program, which aims to build and employ innovation management competencies for the growth and increase competitiveness of major national companies, in addition to the Government Innovation Leaders Program that was launched in partnership with the Diwan Civil service and government development in order to consolidate the foundations of excellence in providing government services.
The Council was briefed on the programs and platforms enabling innovation and scientific research, which were issued by the launch of the second version of Qatar Research, Development and Innovation portal with the wide participation of the concerned authorities at the national level, in addition to the preparations towards launching specialized technical advisory councils with the membership of the concerned authorities to work with the Council in order to coordinate efforts and build consensus on priorities and strategic directions in priority sectors, and enhancing the participation of stakeholders in directing support tools and funding programs for innovation and various scientific research.
The Council also discussed the readiness to issue the annual national performance report for innovation and scientific research, which will include the publication of a performance indicator dashboard at the national level with the aim of promoting strategic directions towards building an economy based on innovation and knowledge.
To conclude the meeting, the Council approved a business plan for the year 2023, which aims to expand innovation and scientific research programs for the stage 2022-2024, in addition to developing an operating model that supports innovation in Qatar. (QNA)