Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, has been awarded the certification for its Integrated Management System (IMS) under the ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 standards. The achievement follows an extensive auditing process done by Intertek, a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide.

The certification covers QEERI’s provision of research, development, and innovation services by each of its centers and departments, including the Energy Center, Water Center, Environment & Sustainability Center, Corrosion Center, Natural & Environmental Hazards Observatory, Earth Science Program, as well as its facilities, including the Core Labs, Outdoor Test Facility, and Solar Monitoring Stations.

ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 are the most internationally recognized standards for Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) management systems. They create a framework that helps organizations ensure that the highest standards for QHSE and accountability are maintained across the various functions, through integrated and standardized policies and procedures.

Dr. Marc Vermeersch, Executive Director, QEERI, said: “The ISO certification reiterates that all of our processes and procedures have been designed with health, safety and quality as the top priority. It highlights that the work executed by QEERI is of the highest quality and that customers, both internal and external, are safe, while environmental aspects and associated impacts are identified by considering the lifecycle perspective and end-of-life treatment of products and services at QEERI. The achievement fully underpins our motivation to provide world-class technology and supporting services to our partners and stakeholders.”

Dr. Muhammed Akmal Rana, Quality Management Director, QEERI, added: “This certification showcases our commitment to providing a healthy and safe working environment for our employees and all visitors. We are grateful to the team from Intertek, and our staff at QEERI, for working towards this goal in such an efficient manner. The certification demonstrates that QEERI is committed to following the highest global standards for QHSE, as well as strongly aligning with the Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Representatives from Intertek met with QEERI’s teams and visited its facilities to ensure they were fully compliant to the breadth of requirements of the ISO certification process.

Dr. Sridhar Kasthuri, Area Manager of Business Assurance at Intertek Qatar, congratulated QEERI for the achievement, saying: “QEERI demonstrated a high commitment across the board from all the employees, as well as the leadership team. The organization showed excellent overall involvement throughout the process, for instance, by including all its staff members in QHSE awareness training and showing a commitment to offering quality services in line with global best practices. It was impressive to witness this kind of dedication to the certification process.” 

As a research institute with a national mandate, QEERI is supporting Qatar in tackling its grand challenges related to energy, water, and the environment in line with Qatar National Vision 2020. The ISO certification highlights QEERI’s ability to consistently provide products and services that exceed applicable customer, statutory, and regulatory requirements.