Doha, Qatar: Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council makes progress in promoting innovation and global partnerships at Web Summit Qatar 2025.

Building on last year’s success, QRDI has leveraged the event to launch new initiatives, unveil key partnerships, and enhance Qatar’s presence in the global tech ecosystem, said Senior Director of Policy Planning and Evaluation at QRDI, Nejoud Al Jehani in an interview with The Peninsula.

According to Al Jehani, QRDI curated a dynamic agenda for Web Summit 2025, focusing on trending topics in 2024-2025 and launching programmes like Innovation Lighthouse, which aligns with Qatar’s third national development strategy to create a robust ecosystem for research, development, and innovation.

“We’ve not only seen growth in startup-related indicators in the Web Summit Qatar 2025, but Qatar’s overall performance in the Global Innovation Index has significantly improved,” Al Jehani added, noting the country has advanced 23 places over the past four years. This progress is a testament to the collective efforts of various stakeholders, including QRDI’s initiatives, she emphasised.

Reflecting on QRDI’s involvement in last year’s summit, Al Jehani described the event as a resounding success. “We saw a significant turnout, both locally and internationally. The engagement from startups, tech enthusiasts, and government entities exceeded expectations, and we knew we had to take it to the next level this year,” she said.

One standout success story from QRDI’s Web Summit Qatar involvement is the Alchemist programme, launched in 2024. Since its inception, Alchemist has actively collaborated with organisations such as QDB and QSTP, helping startups secure deals and fostering innovation across Qatar’s tech sector.

“The ripple effect from last year’s launch has been profound. We’re already seeing Alchemist’s impact with several deals closed, and the programme continues to evolve and integrate into Qatar’s broader innovation ecosystem,” Al Jehani said.

As QRDI continues to build international connections, Al Jehani highlighted several key collaborations with global partners. Qatar has cultivated strategic partnerships with countries such as the UK, Spain, Turkiye, and Singapore, fostering co-innovation and knowledge transfer. Notably, QRDI has worked with the UK on AI initiatives and launched the Qatar-Spain Co-Innovation Programme alongside CDTI in Spain. Additionally, QRDI’s collaborations with Singapore’s Enterprise Singapore and multiple European and Asian nations underscore Qatar’s global approach to innovation.

“These international collaborations are a cornerstone of QRDI’s mission to be globally connected. We are proud to have programmes in place with countries such as Sweden, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia, and we are continuously expanding our network to create opportunities for innovation,” Al Jehani said.