QF’s QSTP, Skolkovo Foundation sign pact to boost ties

Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) – part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development & Innovation (QF RDI) – has announced the...

Tribune News NetworkDohaQatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) – part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development & Innovation (QF RDI) – has announced the latest outcome of its presence at the world-renowned St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2021, which will see the organisation work with Moscow-based Skolkovo Foundation to further the development of technology and innovation projects. Collaboration between QSTP and Skolkovo will boost the technology and start-up ecosystems of both Russia and Qatar and strengthen the commercial and economic ties between the two countries. The new initiative is part of QSTP’s efforts to play a pivotal role on the global technology stage.The partnership will see QSTP and Skolkovo work together to facilitate market entry of their start-ups in each other’s market by means of bilateral business, cultural and educational events. Start-ups that are based within QSTP will be able to join the Skolkovo soft-landing programme that provides in-depth understanding of the peculiarities of the Russian market, preparing foreign start-ups to penetrate the Russian market and get full information about the conditions and procedures to successfully integrate into the Skolkovo Innovation Center. The organisations will also look to create a dedicated technology accelerator programme to cater for start-ups currently based in parties’ markets.Together with Skolkovo, QSTP - Qatar’s premier hub for technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship – will also introduce exciting new programmes for both domestic and international technology-focused firms and will increase activity in the fields of health and biomedicine, energy, resource sustainability, information and telecommunication technologies, cybersecurity and digital technology.“Just like QSTP, the Skolkovo Foundation has the drive to facilitate industry-leading science and research projects for the development of innovative technology products, services and enterprises at the very heart of its operations,” said QSTP’s Executive Director Yosouf Al Salehi. “Together, we have an important mission - to promote the exchange of ideas and know-how to foster an environment in which creative thinking and innovation can thrive. International business cooperation is crucial to the success and prosperity of technology-based industries and enterprises. Our joint endeavours will contribute to technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship across both Qatar and Russia, while also benefiting users and consumers of products and services that result from fruitful innovation,” he added.Founded in 2010, the Skolkovo Foundation is the principal agency responsible for the Skolkovo Innovation Center, a major scientific and hi-tech headquarters for the development and commercialisation of advanced technologies.Arkady Dvorkovich, chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation, said: “Since its establishment, the Skolkovo Foundation set out to help entrepreneurs and young researchers realise the business potential inherent in their projects, inter alia, by assisting them develop their projects and enter international markets. “This was achieved by building a wide network of international partners. Signing the memorandum of understanding with QSTP today supports this strategy. Moreover, it is part of our vision of enhancing international technological networks which we realise its vitality and importance today, more than ever, to achieve sustainability and stability.”“I am confident that signing the memorandum will be an important turning point in the type and quality of joint projects we will carry out together with QSTP for the benefit of the start-ups in our ecosystems,” Dvorkovich added.SPEIF is a leading international platform that, since 1997, has focused on economies, social issues and technological development in a global context. “The theme of this year’s conference – Education and Science – backed by Russia’s declaration of 2021 as their Year of Science and Technology, and the strong impetus to enhance economic, investment and trade partnerships between our countries, provides a very pertinent backdrop to our promising collaboration with Skolkovo Foundation,” Salehi added.QSTP’s delegation at SPIEF ’21 is part of the Qatar’s overall participation as a ‘Guest Country’ – one of the largest business delegations to be formed for an international forum of this prominence and scale.