Global Arab Network | ictQATAR and Qatar Science & Technology Park Committed to ICT Innovation

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ictQATAR and Qatar Science & Technology Park Committed to ICT Innovation

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Sunday, 29 March 2009 14:29

The Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), part of the Qatar Foundation, recently opened its doors to much acclaim. QSTP is part of Qatar's ambitious mission to develop into a knowledge based economy and will be the home to science and ICT-based companies from around the world. It will also serve as an incubator for start-up companies. QSTP focuses on four major areas - energy, health, environment and ICT.

Senior leadership from ictQATAR participated in the launch events for QSTP and expressed a shared commitment to moving the nation forward and encouraging innovations in the information and communications technology sector. ""ICT is one of the major pillars of innovation. ictQATAR looks forward to collaborating with QSTP to foster innovation in Qatar,"" said Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, ictQATAR's Secretary General.

In her remarks at the launch press conference, Dr. Hessa highlighted numerous projects that ictQATAR and QSTP are considering for partnership opportunities. These include a national centre of excellence for e-health interoperability, a national centre for assistive technology, incubation of ICT start-up companies, shared market research to help drive growth and innovation, and also regular ICT awareness workshops. She also noted that numerous multinational companies that are investing in QSTP are ICT companies, many of which have working relationships with ictQATAR, including MEEZA, Microsoft and CISCO.

Khalid N. Sadiq Al-Hashmi, QCERT Center Director and Manager, and Charles Watt, Executive Director of Market Development, both participated in a roundtable discussion focused on ICT as part of the launch. Al-Hashmi highlighted the importance of cyber security when developing programs and initiatives that utilize ICT. ""ictQATAR knows that cyber security is a major concern as we progress, especially when we consider our children. Greater innovations will take place if people feel safe and secure using the technologies that are driving change,"" he said.

Watt discussed some important ictQATAR initiatives that are underway to help grow Qatar's ICT market, including the development of a strong telecommunications infrastructure, special workshops and seminars for small and medium enterprises to encourage the adoption of ICT and incentives to encourage foreign direct investment in the country. ""There are many factors that impact the development of a knowledge-based economy and we are committed to helping remove barriers to this development and fully expect to see marked growth in Qatar's ICT sector in the coming years.""

The official inauguration of QSTP was held on 2009 March 16 and attended by regional and international dignitaries, including HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa and HE Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned.

Global Arab Network

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