The Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council participated in London Tech Week (LTW) 2024 as the Global Innovation Partner, aiming to strengthen connections within the RDI ecosystem both in Qatar and globally.
From June 10 to 12, 2024, Olympia in London hosted the event, which attracted 45,000 attendees, including corporate leaders, startups, investors, and policymakers. It provided a platform to showcase Qatar’s thought leadership and value propositions in technology and innovation.
The QRDI Council delegation, alongside leaders from Qatar Investment Authority, Invest Qatar, Qatar Development Bank, Milaha, and Qatar University, engaged in crucial discussions with international counterparts, emphasizing Qatar’s dedication to building a robust RDI ecosystem.
During the Global Leaders Innovation Summit, the QRDI Council hosted a roundtable on June 10 titled “Responsible & Inclusive Tech: How do we build and sustain an inclusive tech ecosystem?” This invite-only session featured key innovation leaders discussing the impact of technology-driven innovations on daily life and work, and strategies to mitigate potential negative effects without hindering progress.
On the first day, Dr. Abdulaziz Khalid Al Ali from Qatar University participated in the panel discussion “The Power of AI to Transform Industries,” focusing on the transformative effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on productivity, efficiency, and business success.
On June 11, QRDI Council’s Chief Advisor for Innovation and Enterprise, Dr. Maher Hakim, conducted two sessions. The first, “Technology Innovation: It Is Not All Rosy,” addressed the challenges posed by technological advancements and the need for new strategies to guide investments in future innovations. His second session, “Financing Your Startup: There Are a Lot More Options Than You Think!” explored various startup types and stages, along with global and Qatari financing sources available to entrepreneurs.
Milaha’s Vice-President of Container Shipping, Peter Verheijen, discussed “Green Supply Chains – Driving Decarbonisation at Scale,” highlighting transport decarbonization and circular supply chains. Additionally, QDB’s Senior Manager of Investment, Mohammed Al-Emadi, contributed to the session “Does Place Matter? Where To Found a Startup and How To Go Global,” addressing the factors startups should consider when expanding internationally, particularly the opportunities available in Qatar.
