The Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council has wrapped up its participation at the Web Summit Qatar 2025 with notable announcements. The council finalized two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), one with the Ministry of Labour and another with the Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre. These agreements signify QRDI's commitment to advancing innovation across various sectors.
Secretary-General of the QRDI Council, Omar Ali al-Ansari, stated, “These two significant Memorandums of Understandings reflect our dedicated commitment to advancing the country’s use of innovation in the public sector. Our partnerships with Itqan and the Ministry of Labour represent an important step toward enhancing Qatar's healthcare landscapes and advancing the country’s digital transformation.”
The MoU with Itqan aims to strengthen collaboration within Qatar’s healthcare sector. This partnership emphasizes developing a strong research, development, and innovation (RDI) strategy, alongside supporting the creation of key policies and regulations to promote this sector. The joint initiatives seek to confront national healthcare challenges and explore opportunities for open innovation to develop technological solutions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and the QRDI Council formalized their collaboration to revolutionize certificate authentication through blockchain technology, enhancing the credential verification process within Qatar’s labor market. This initiative is poised to pave the way for more efficient, secure, and innovative methods for certificate authentication.
QRDI also awarded winners of its Rising Innovators Award during the summit, aimed at empowering and showcasing the projects of undergraduate and graduate students. Winners had the opportunity to present their innovative concepts at the QRDI pavilion. The first-place prize went to the Modular Automatic Sorting Hub project from students at Doha University of Science and Technology. The second place was shared between two projects: the AI-powered Sharia Bot from Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the Electronic Medical Triage System from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar.
Aysha Abdulhameed al-Mudahka, RDI Senior Programme Director at QRDI Council, remarked, “At QRDI Council, we are proud to support and nurture the next generation of innovators. The Rising Innovators Award embodies our commitment to fostering creativity, collaboration, and new solutions among young minds. Announcing the award winners at Web Summit Qatar is significant, as it provides these students with a global stage to showcase their ideas and gain international recognition.”
QRDI Council also hosted several enriching sessions, including one titled “Boost Your R&D Growth with QRDI's Tech Development Grant,” which shed light on supporting research and development within the technological domain. Other sessions included discussions on the role of artificial intelligence through “Beyond Smart: AI, Startups & the Future of Cities,” and “Bridging Capital & Innovation: The Startup Journey,” which delved deep insights on the startup ecosystem.
A key highlight was the collaboration with Ignite Sweden for the session “Qatar & Sweden: Powering Deep Tech Innovation,” aimed at creating stronger synergies between Qatar’s startup sector and established companies.
On another front, Qatar Airways has secured approval from Australia to purchase a 25% stake in Virgin Australia, enhancing competition against the long-dominant Qantas. The federal government’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed the acquisition aligns with national interest, supporting competition across the aviation sector.
Chalmers stated, “My decision aligns with the advice of the Foreign Investment Review Board, which confirmed this proposal aligns with the national interest.” Vice President of Virgin Australia, Jayne Hrdlicka, expressed confidence, saying the deal would support market growth and bolster their competitive edge.
Qantas, the national carrier, noted their first-half profit surged by 11% amid strong passenger demand, and they've declared their first special dividend after more than twenty years. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson acknowledged the importance of competition, stating, “We always said we welcome competition and we always said we weren't going to oppose the result. The announcement today was expected.”
Qantas and its budget arm, Jetstar, previously held approximately 65% of Australia's domestic market share, whereas Virgin Australia had 35%. Notably, Australia's competition watchdog recently backed the alliance of Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, which might introduce up to 28 new weekly return services between Doha and Australia’s larger cities.
Qatar Airways plans to operate long-haul flights to Doha, with launches expected by June, using aircraft leased from its own fleet to offer increased options for travelers flying to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Shifting focus locally, MUFG, the prominent Japanese financial group, has appointed Zaeem Khan as the general manager and head of its Doha office, succeeding Mamoru Takahashi. Khan, who has extensive experience with the bank, will continue to lead corporate coverage and global corporate and investment banking within Qatar.
These developments come at a time when Qatar's economic activities are gaining momentum, evident from recent reports on the nature of its private sector export performance. According to the Qatar Chamber, private sector exports for Q4 2024 reached QR4.48 billion, reflecting nearly a 69% increase year-on-year, with specific commodities showing remarkable performance.
The report highlighted substantial growth across various export categories, particularly with chemical products witnessing increases of over 236%. Yet, this surge occurred within the backdrop of a 41% dip overall compared to prior year totals. This data points to both opportunities and challenges faced within Qatar's diverse export portfolio.
These developments reflect Qatar’s continuous efforts to strengthen its economic and business frontier, promoting innovation and enhancing competitiveness within various sectors. With strategic investments and collaborative agreements, Qatar aims to cement itself as a significant player on the global economic stage.