Supporting environment

The QRDI Council was established in 2018 to translate the nation’s R&D objectives into tangible initiatives and procedures to be implemented by Qatar Foundation’s RDI entities and actors across government, industry, and academia. The council has created a robust framework to achieve a more dynamic, mobile, and fully integrated RDI ecosystem that enables the development and deployment of breakthrough solutions to address national challenges and consolidate Qatar’s resilience and prosperity.

The QRDI 2030 framework identifies scientific research, RDI talent, and innovation as the three key elements to transform Qatar’s RDI landscape across five high-priority thematic areas, including energy, health, resource sustainability, society, and digital technology. This framework comes as a result of the extensive, collaborative work of QRDI council members - representing government, academia, and industry - to ensure a nationally shared conception and understanding of the RDI strategy deliverables. It also aims to formulate a robust transformative process of the RDI ecosystem.

TAWTEEN is a holistic programme launched by Qatar Petroleum as a strategic initiative for supply chain localisation in the energy sector in pursuit of the Qatar National Vision 2030. The programme creates significant investment opportunities and provides suppliers with technical and business development channels. Aiming to establish and sustain competitive in-country suppliers to fulfill the needs of the energy sector, TAWTEEN also introduced an In-Country Value (ICV) rewarding policy that grants incentives to suppliers conducting business transactions domestically. Participants of the programme encompass all energy sector companies, along with other supporting industries and government entities.

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) launched its Export Development Agency, TASDEER, in 2011 to help Qatar-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in financing, promoting and developing their export capabilities. With a vision to increase non-hydrocarbon exports, the agency provides support to all Qatari exporters in all sectors regardless of their turnover or the size of their export contracts.

In addition to offering financial solutions and credit insurance, including pre and post shipment risk covers, TASDEER conducts international market surveys and provides “Trade” and “Market Access” mapping tools to help exporters identify product demand and gain thorough trade knowledge of target markets. Moreover, TASDEER has capacity-building incentives and global trade exhibitions participation programmes to help SMEs engage, explore business opportunities, and boost their competitiveness in international markets.

Smart Qatar Program (TASMU) is an initiative of the Ministry of Transport and Communication (MOTC), launched in 2017 to support the realisation of a digital economy and a smarter way of living. TASMU focuses on utilising advanced technology and innovation to drive economic diversification and sustainable growth and raise the state’s international competitiveness in an ever-changing technology landscape.

The programme has hundreds of active initiatives across various top priority sectors, such as transportation, logistics, healthcare, environment, and sports. It will also continue expanding focus to new sectors to accelerate Qatar’s transformation into a world-class smart city. TASMU efforts comprise enacting suitable legislation, establishing the right partnerships, and providing a research and experimentation environment, while promoting an entrepreneurial culture, and optimum placement of funds.

Established in 2011, Manateq is the leading state-run developer and operator of the Special Economic Zones, Warehousing Parks, Industrial Zones, and Logistics Parks in Qatar. The company offers world-class business environment and infrastructure, where local and foreign investment can prosper and grow. In realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030, Manateq plays a vital role in economic growth and diversification by establishing a broader range of business sectors and facilitating the development of domestic SMEs capable of competing internationally. It also focuses on attracting international investment and partnerships. Moreover, it creates a platform that reinforces the move away from hydrocarbon dependency and solidifies the sustainability of economic growth long after major infrastructure projects were completed.

Manateq provides an international portal that offers investors a range of integrated services with the right conditions, ensuring swift set-up and smooth, long-term operations. This includes advanced customer engagement and support services, facilitated equity and loan financing, land and property solutions, duty-free zone incentives, high-tech infrastructure, local and international connectivity, transport network, and access to regional and international markets.

The Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) is a governmental funding body established by Qatar Foundation in 2006 to support competitively selected, original research by Qatari and foreign researchers and to promote dialogue and partnerships. The QNRF provides several funding programmes for students and professionals conducting research projects that incorporate a Qatar-based partner in the academic, public, and private sectors. The programmes cover various disciplines in line with the State’s national research strategy, including health and life sciences, computer sciences and ICT, energy and environment, social sciences, arts, and humanities.

The QNRF is part of the State’s ongoing commitment to establishing scholarly excellence and innovation in Qatar as the essential means to diversify and reinforce a knowledge-based economy, improve educational offerings, and enhance the well-being, standard of living, and security of citizens and residents. In addition, the research deliverables will significantly contribute to promoting entrepreneurship as well as creating intellectual property and the efficient utilisation of natural resources.

The QNFSP was established in 2008 to encourage domestic food production and reduce reliance on food imports. Over the past few years, Qatar has achieved a remarkable increase in domestic food production, exceeding self-sufficiency in some kinds of fresh foods. The nation-led programme focuses on the following key elements:

Agriculture

The key element towards developing and expanding the agriculture sector in Qatar is introducing best practices to optimise the utilisation of resources available such as scarce irrigation water and climatic inhibitions. The QNFSP implements advanced technologies in crop production, fertiliser efficiency, irrigation systems, greenhouses, vertical, and soilless farming. Such technologies play an important role in minimising impact on the environment, while providing profitable and sustainable production.

Food Manufacturing

Developing the food processing industry is another element in increasing domestic production. The longer shelf-life of processed foods can reduce waste of raw food and increase availability of products, which subsequently enhances the country’s food security. The programme has planned for the development of an Agro-Industrial Park to serve as a hub for the food processing industry. Accordingly, international quality assurance procedures will be implemented to ensure the production of high-quality products capable of competing internationally. In addition, the park should provide expandable storage facilities to ensure constant supply of wheat, rice, barley, milk, oil, sugar, and other raw materials.

Water

The programme focuses on using water desalination as the main source for irrigation to reduce depletion of groundwater aquifers. The QNFSP has also developed plans for expanding desalination capacity in addition to increasing the treated sewage effluent (TSE) production from wastewater. Strict measures have been taken to ensure better water management and optimise irrigation operations.

Renewable Energy

Utilising solar energy and wind power is an essential element of the QNFSP plan to develop an integrated solution to food security, while reducing reliance on hydrocarbon fuels and achieving environmental resource sustainability. The programme puts emphasis on solar energy due to the country’s climate and geographical position. This helps secure a sustainable supply of freshwater using solar-powered desalination, which in turn will increase farming capacity. The QNFSP adopts a smart grid for the integration of all electricity sources with other means of renewable energy.

The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) oversees investment promotion activities under the Invest Qatar brand and acts as the country’s umbrella organisation for FDI attraction. As part of its mandate, the IPA manages financial incentives under a centralised national incentives program, developed to complement the nation’s value proposition to attract foreign investors.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) offers a range of investment incentives. Examples of the incentives the government provides under the MOCI include land allocation for a foreign investment project by way of use or renewable rent, the foreign investor has the right to import what is necessary for the establishment, operation or expansion of his investment project, and the investor may be exempt from income tax as well custom duties for machinery and equipment.

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) offers a range of mechanisms—from reviewing your feasibility study and supporting you with the necessary funding, to providing you legal and financial advisory services—to help you launch and run a business successfully in Qatar.

Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) was established in 2006 as part of the ongoing efforts to establish Qatar as a knowledge economy. QNRF programs provide funding opportunities in the academic, public, and private sectors to foster research in priority sectors such as engineering and technology, physical and life sciences, medicine, humanities, social sciences, and the arts.

Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) provides multiple funding opportunities for local and international tech founders and entrepreneurs. The Product Development Fund (PDF) for instance is a cost-sharing fund where QSTP provides up to 50% of the total budget as a grant to encourage local startups and SMEs. The QSTP Tech Venture Fund (TVF) on the other hand provides source-seed funding and follow-on capital for local and international tech founders and entrepreneurs looking to scale in the region.