Apply Now 
The Education City Innovative Entrepreneurship Program - an initiative of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) - is open to applications from entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas that align with Qatar National Vision 2030. Shortlisted applicants will be offered capacity building training and kickstarter funding from HBKU Innovation Center, the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship platform.
The 18-month program is designed as a long-term annual initiative for entrepreneurs living in Qatar, and with an active Education City affiliation, to commercialize their business ideas. These should address the priority areas by falling into one of the five application themes: Progressive Education, Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Precision Medicine, or Social Progress. Applications will be reviewed according to creativity, value creation and impact, and feasibility.
Dr. Nadir Yildirim, Innovation Director at HBKU, explained: “Innovation drives research and development at HBKU, and the Education City Innovative Entrepreneurship Program manifests our efforts to widen the reach of our ecosystem to be a facilitator for sustainable innovation in Qatar. Aspiring, high-potential innovators have this opportunity to gain the knowledge, resources, and network they need to build their ideas. We strongly encourage anyone with an innovative business idea different from conventional business models to apply, in particular, women entrepreneurs, students, and researchers.”
Accepted applicants will be given an opportunity to present their idea to a jury comprising academics, investors, and entrepreneurship and innovation agencies.
Up to 20 entrepreneurs selected as finalists will receive capacity building training, which will include innovative entrepreneurship, systematic innovation, leadership, project writing, idea pitching, business model and business plan preparations. Participants will be able to benefit from the co-working space available at HBKU Innovation Center.
In parallel with their capacity building training, the entrepreneurs will also prepare their project to apply to the Kickstarter Fund offered by the HBKU Innovation Center. The fund will target five projects with a budget of up to QAR 100,000 each. Each funded project will be invited to a ‘Demo Day’, an opportunity for the participating entrepreneurs to present their ideas to investors and secure an investment to scale up their businesses.
The deadline for this cycle is April 1, 2022. Eligible applicants should have a valid Qatar residence permit, a Qatar Foundation ID, and an innovative business idea. Those interested can visit https://innovation.hbku.edu.qa/entrepreneurship-program.