The second edition of Qatar University (QU) “Knowledge Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship (KITE)” startups incubation programme was launched recently and will focus on developing knowledge-based, innovative, and technological startups that emerge from research, development, and intellectual property outputs. Such startups are considered a fundamental pillar for driving economic development in advanced innovation-based knowledge economies.
More than 30 teams (composed of over 100 participants) were accepted into the programme, with an almost equal distribution between beginners (undergraduate students) and experts (postgraduate students, researchers, staff, and faculty members). The majority of participating teams were from QU, while around 10% included innovators and entrepreneurs from other universities in the country. The participants significantly also represented engineering, technology, and computer science, accounting for nearly 40% of the total participants.
The participants in the advanced second stage of the program were carefully selected from hundreds of successful participants who completed a series of pre-incubation programmes organized by the university internally and externally during the academic year 2022-2023. These pre-incubation period included two cycles for undergraduate students at QU (Fall 2022 and Spring 2023), as well as the Al Fikra National Entrepreneurship Competition. Additionally, there was a pre-incubation programme for postgraduate students, researchers, staff and faculty members at QU in its spring 2023 session.
Dr. Omar Al Ansari, President of QU, said, “In the context of QU’s deep commitment to supporting the achievement of Qatar National Vision 2030 in all its dimensions related to human, social, economic, and environmental development, the university has been at the forefront among higher education institutions in the country. This happened by establishing an integrated institutional strategy for innovation and entrepreneurship to support the state’s efforts in economic development and enhance an innovation and knowledge-based economy. The launch of the second edition of the incubation programme is part of this framework to foster quantitative and qualitative advancements in technological startups based on research and development outputs, with the support of QU Holding Company and the Office of Strategic Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development at QU.”
Prof. Mariam Al Maadeed, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and a board member of QU Holding, stated, “QU has high-level research outputs and hosts a distinguished elite of researchers and scientists. In addition, there are many options available for postgraduate studies, which can be considered a fundamental asset in establishing research-based startups relying on research, development, and intellectual property.”
Dr. Khalid Naji, Dean of the College of Engineering and board member of QU Holding, said, “The College of Engineering prioritizes engineering innovation and technological entrepreneurship in line with the vision of the university and the national vision for 2030. Considering the notable interest from students, researchers, and faculty members in the college in innovation initiatives, entrepreneurship, and the development of engineering and technological startups in the past two years, we believe that the College of Engineering at QU will be a leading player in the Gulf region and the Arab world in its output of startups within the next five years.”
The programme includes several specialised workshops and accompanying activities in addition to regular mentoring sessions. At the end of the programme, the successful teams will proceed to the third stage with the QU Holding Company and the SIEED Office at QU.
