A key player situated at the heart of Qatar’s innovation ecosystem, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) proved to be a natural partner for Web Summit Qatar 2024.

Through the showcasing of eight technologies and eight startups developed within its research and innovation ecosystem and participation in expert discussions, the university’s contribution underscored its commitment to entrepreneurship and making connections between changemakers to address national research priorities and global challenges. Web Summit Qatar 2024 was also an opportunity to highlight HBKU’s focus on research commercialization, as well as how academic institutions shape and inform knowledge-based economies. 

Commenting on the Summit, Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, President, HBKU, noted: “Web Summit Qatar 2024 is a confirmation of the country’s determined leadership in establishing a truly international science and technology hub and center for entrepreneurship and innovation. It is a journey defined by constant collaboration between academia and industry, and one that will continue for the foreseeable future. To this end, HBKU’s vibrant commercialization landscape embodies this partnership and actively contributes to the convergence of Qatar’s knowledge and industrial base.” 

Eight start-ups featured at Web Summit Qatar 2024 were initiated by HBKU researchers, faculty, and students, with support from the university’s robust incubation and development infrastructure. Facilitated by HBKU’s Office of Innovation and Industrial Relations (OIIR), the university's comprehensive innovation management model aids entrepreneurs throughout their entrepreneurship journeys, offering access to resources and expertise within HBKU’s innovation ecosystem. OIIR also discussed opportunities and challenges facing intellectual property protection in Qatar on an expert panel in a special session.

Thuraya Nasser Al-Mulla, a student at HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering (CSE), represented the university’s entrepreneurial community in a talk highlighting her sustainable fintech startup Receipts, which aims to foster sustainable consumerism by introducing smart receipts and reducing paper waste.

Several HBKU faculty, scientists, researchers, and students from CSE, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), and HBKU Press also exhibited their technologies and own startups at Web Summit 2024, engaging with fellow entrepreneurs and potential investors in the process.

HBKU played a leading role in fostering collaboration between like-minded institutions and entities at Web Summit Qatar 2024, with faculty and researchers joining a global dialogue on critical topics that inform Qatar’s national research priorities.

Members of the CSE faculty gave talks on an array of topics at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence (AI), such as the emergence of edge intelligence, impact of quantum computing, and importance of AI education. They also commented on and analyzed existing applications of Green Tech in agriculture, desalination, oil and gas production, and  other industries.

For its part, Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) weighed in on a variety of subjects impacting technology research, including advancements made in the deployment of large language models and  strengthening of IT systems from increasing cybersecurity threats. Dr. Sanjay Chawla, Research Director, Data Analytics, joined a future-oriented discussion on how organizations can integrate generative AI into  workflows to drive creativity and innovation while ensuring  advancements are covered by cybersecurity measures. 

A member of Qatar Foundation, HBKU strives to empower students and engage alumni to develop skills and competencies through diverse, multidisciplinary educational and social learning opportunities. For information, please visit hbku.edu.qa