Qatar Tourism Authority

Research Centers

Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) brings research and business together to support the country's development of a sustainable, knowledge-based economy - a process in which Qatar Foundation plays a leading role.

The role of QSTP is to support international companies, institutes and entrepreneurs to develop cutting-edge technologies in Qatar, and to foster their partnership with the renowned universities at Qatar Foundation's Education City.

The science park provides an ideal environment for technology business: research-friendly buildings, commercialization support programs, free-trade zone incentives, and the commitment of Qatar's senior leadership. It is also an incubator for start-up ventures, helping to commercialize the fruits of Qatar's strong investment in research and development.

QSTP's new $300 million facilities opened mid-2008. ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Shell and Total will also establish research and training centers that add value to Qatar's hydrocarbons sector; local software company iHorizons joins Microsoft and Cisco in developing new IT applications; EADS and GE are at the forefront of industrial technologies; SMARD is Qatar's first bio medical research company; and Gartner Lee is specializing in environmental management.

QSTP is co-located at Education City with universities of some of the world's most famous research-based universities. Companies at the science park are forming research and education partnerships with the institutes.

The outcomes of this collaboration will be new technology-based enterprises that will help diversify Qatar's economy, and will provide exciting career opportunities for the country's bright young scientists and engineers. By partnering with world-leading corporate and academic research teams, QSTP will also be a base for platform technologies that will underpin the growth of knowledge industries in Qatar for years to come.

For more information on Qatar Science & Technology Park, please visit www.qstp.org.qa
From Qatar Foundation

Qatar National Research Fund

Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) was created under Qatar Foundation to guide the creation of the country's research programs, which will be a catalyst for a new knowledge-based economy. Targeted research will enhance the education and well-being of citizens, as well as the skills level of the workforce. Some of the research projects will find their way to the stage of commercialization, helping diversify the country's economy.

QNRF will advance knowledge and education by supporting original, competitively selection research in the sciences, arts and humanities.

QNRF administers financial support to researchers at all levels, from students to professionals, in the private, public and academic sectors. Funding is awarded through a competitive process to original projects in engineering and technology, physical and life sciences, medicine, humanities, social sciences and the arts.

It is part of the QNRF strategy to foster collaboration within academia and through public-private partnerships inside and outside of Qatar.

QNRF actively seeks internationally recognized researchers to study topics of regional and global importance; however it is primarily dedicated to funding research in the national interest and fostering improvements in the health, environment and security of the people of Qatar and the region.

The State of Qatar has dedicated 2.8 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product to research, currently about 1,500 million US dollars per year.

For more information about Qatar National Research Fund and its funding programs, visit www.qnrf.org

From Qatar Foundation

Sidra Medical and Research Center

Sidra Medical and Research Center will be a landmark development encompassing three primary missions: patient care, medical education and biomedical research. It is envisioned as a center of excellence that will raise the quality of medical care for Qatar and the region.

Health is central to the country's commitment to enhancing quality of life, and Sidra will contribute to all three parts of Qatar Foundation's human development mission - education, scientific research and community outreach.

An artist's impression of Sidra Medical and Research Centre, located in Education City and due to open in 2011.

Located in Education City and due to open in 2011, Sidra will incorporate the most sophisticated digital technology in all areas - from administrative functions to the assembly and application of genetic coding in advanced scientific research.

Sidra's specialization will be women's and children's health, but it will offer select medical and surgical services for all adults. The facility will also focus on diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and other illnesses.

Sidra will serve as a premier teaching venue for Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and it will help establish the nation as a leader in the creation of scientific knowledge through its biomedical research center. Translational and clinical research will begin prior to Sidra's opening through partnerships with WCMC-Q and Hamad Medical Corporation, the country's major public health provider. The translational research agenda will encompass pregnancy health and infertility, women's health and developmental and preventive medicine. The clinical portfolio will include medical devices, diagnostics, drugs and vaccines.

Qatar Foundation has committed $7.9 billion USD to Sidra the largest cash endowment of a medical center anywhere in the world. Construction began in 2008.

For more information and ongoing updates about Sidra Medical and Research Center, visit www.sidra.org.

From Qatar Foundation

RAND – Qatar Policy Institute

The RAND-Qatar Policy Institute (RQPI) is a joint venture between Qatar Foundation and the RAND Corporation - a US-based think tank. The RAND Corporation was involved in Qatar's public policy reform from an early stage, particularly in education and healthcare - the cornerstones of successful societies.

RQPI works closely with decision-makers in examining complex public policy issues and developing sound action plans. It helps carry these through to implementation.

In Qatar, it worked with local authorities to develop the 'Education for a New Era' initiative that is transforming K-12 education in the country's schools. It analyzed the country's scholarship system, recommending a new approach to supporting academically-able students to study at world-class universities in Qatar Foundation's Education City and around the world.

The Qatar National Research Fund resulted from RQPI research that recommended its establishment as a way to build human capital and encourage the creation of intellectual property in Qatar. RQPI strongly believes in making its work understandable and accessible, and it undertakes efforts to stimulate and inform public debate on prominent issues through presentations and publications.

From its location in Education City, RQPI serves clients across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

With access to RAND's global network, RQPI offers clients expertise in a broad spectrum of practice areas: education, energy, environment, health and healthcare, child policy, civil justice, economic development, international affairs, international security, labor and population, organizational effectiveness, public safety, science and technology, transportation and infrastructure.

For more information about RAND-Qatar Policy Institute, visit www.rand.org/qatar

From Qatar Foundation