Qatar foundations host workshops for start-ups

Leaders from Qatar Foundation Research and Development, Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), and Qatar Development collaborated to to host Innovation Management workshops for start-ups, entrepreneurs and fledgling businesses.

These workshops are intended to provide encouragement and mentorship from experienced business leaders for entrepreneurs and start-up companies in the region as they begin their businesses.

"Qatar Science & Technology Park is the one and only technology development complex that is a Free Zone and home to 38 resident companies varying between key multinational R&D players and Technology Development SMEs and Start-Ups, all under one roof,” QSTP Managing Director Hamad Al Kuwari said. “In addition to our state-of-the-art infrastructure, QSTP offers a diverse portfolio of services to both local and regional markets to shore up our mission as facilitators of applied research, technology-innovation and incubation.

"While the Accelerator and Start-Up Incubator cater to the needs of potential entrepreneurs in terms of technology-related idea development, enhancing business skills, creating technology prototypes, or establishing a business and making use of our incubator benefits, the Proof of Concept Fund is tailored to help existing Qatari institutions who require financial support with an innovative technology project that addresses a local or regional market gap,” Al Kuwari said.

QSTP supports and assists business development in fields including information and communication, energy, environment, and health sciences technologies.

"Qatar Development Bank is the main supporter in the development of SMEs and the private sector, in addition to assisting and supporting the entrepreneurs and providing all they need to create a supportive environment for entrepreneurship,” Qatar Development Bank CEO Abdulaziz Nasser Al-Khalifa said. “We focus on the continuous development of SMEs and building their internal capacity to develop better products and services. One of Qatar Development Bank initiatives is to provide packages of integrated training and development programs for SMEs in cooperation with the best institutions."