Message from the Council

To ensure our country’s long-term economic and social prosperity and cement our position as a global powerhouse, we have embarked on a journey to build a sustainable, diversified knowledge-based economy. Our journey will build upon our natural resources-based economic strengths to jump-start the transition towards highly productive industries.

The Qatar National Vision 2030 identifies innovation as one of the critical elements of this transformation. And rightly so: it drives economic growth, increases industrial productivity, tackles environmental and social challenges, facilitates the emergence of R&D-intensive sectors – which in turn create new high-skill employment opportunities – and grows the country’s export base. Moreover, when properly harnessed, the impact of innovation goes well beyond economic and commercial dynamics. It activates a self-sustaining virtuous cycle to continuously replenish the knowledge stock and talent pool, thus creating abundant opportunities for all.

Together, the establishment of the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council and the presentation of the QRDI 2030 Strategy to His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani in 2020 represent a significant step forward in achieving our goals and defining a clear vision to do so. This report describes our progress, challenges, and actions to help us meet our objectives. It is the first in a series of annual reports, underscoring our commitment to increasing awareness and accountability of all Innovation and Scientific research activities in the country.

We are excited about the journey ahead, with one eye toward our current strengths and another toward unlocking the endless economic, social, and human development possibilities that lie before us.

H.E. Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State for Defence Affairs Chairperson of the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council

“A locally empowered and globally connected Research, Development and Innovation ecosystem that enhances Qatar’s resilience and prosperity.” This is our vision, ambition, and commitment to future generations. This is what our country needs to succeed in a new global order that is fast-paced, knowledge-based, and highly competitive. Achieving this mission requires close cooperation between all elements of the innovation value chain. Industry players, academic institutions, and government organizations are joint stakeholders in our ecosystem approach, designed to unleash the full potential of innovation and scientific research in Qatar.

Year after year, we have addressed this challenge by focusing on talent and knowledge, striving to create a fully integrated environment where ideas and capital flow freely. We built bridges and broadened our stakeholder base to increase synergy between groups and individuals. Thanks to our successful collaboration, we have managed to kick off initiatives that foster technological advancement, societal progress, and sustainable change as drivers of individual and collective development.

Our partners have played a crucial role in implementing our shared agenda and will continue to do so. Looking forward, fulfilling national strategic ambitions will require greater private-sector involvement. Business innovation is a critical ingredient in our country’s success and competitiveness, as it transforms research output into new products, improved services, and better processes. However, we need to correct the misconception that scientific discoveries directly result in corporate innovation. Such beneficial outcomes do not happen magically: we need to continue adding the ingredients of talent, knowledge, and significant communication to the recipe.

This is a challenging task, but it is worth pursuing together as we explore untapped opportunities, build long-term productivity, and achieve economic, environmental, and social sustainability. In this publication, we take stock of where we are and envision how to realize the outcomes we seek.

H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani

Vice Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Foundation Vice Chairperson of the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council

The past decades have been a transformative time for our country. We have seen unprecedented growth in academic and research excellence, infrastructure development, and the emergence of innovative ventures. As a national orchestrator, the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council has been overseeing the implementation of the QRDI 2030 Strategy to coordinate and channel individual efforts into our national priorities and objectives.

We have launched the QRDI Portal, a single online platform that combines the resources, technology, and innovation capabilities available within the Qatari ecosystem to promote connection and collaboration. In 2022, we launched two programs to strengthen innovation within our large local enterprises – Corporate Innovation Leaders and Open Innovation – along with the Government Innovation Leaders and SME Product Management Bootcamp programs.

At the same time, we are forging strategic partnerships that will accelerate the development of the innovation and scientific research ecosystem. Examples include our Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change on leveraging innovation to enhance resource sustainability; the Investment Promotion Agency to attract foreign Innovation and Scientific Research investment; Qatar University to strengthen the talent pipeline; Qatar Development Bank, to support the national entrepreneurial ecosystem; and the Civil Service and Governmental Development Bureau, to attain new levels of excellence in government innovation.

We have come a long way, but this is just the beginning. Despite the considerable challenges faced, the success stories of our students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators give us confidence that we are on the right track.

Eng. Omar Ali Al Ansari

Secretary General of the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council