Innovation can take many forms. Qatar’s vision for a sustainable, diversified economy as stipulated in the Qatar National Vision 2030, and as further articulated in the National Development Strategies, requires the expansion of R&D-based innovation.

This type of innovation leverages research and development for the creation of products or services that can be new to an organization, market or world. It can involve the development of new knowledge or technology, or adaptation of existing technology in novel ways to ultimately provide a positive economic and societal impact.

QRDI 2030 places the business sector, comprised of large local enterprises, multinational corporations (MNCs), start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as the primary driver of R&D-based innovation. Government entities also play a key role, as enablers of business sector activity, as potential buyers of innovative products and services, and as innovators, translating research outputs into policy reforms that benefit the nation. QRDI 2030 seeks to drive its business sector toward lending greater focus in the area of innovation and value creation through new or significantly improved R&D-based products or services, or, in the case of government, research-based policies to meet end-user needs.