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Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) hosted the International Annual Tradelab Conference 2026, where global scholars, legal, and policy practitioners addressed the evolving role of industrial regulations in redefining economic competitiveness in the digital and climate transition era. 

Organized by the College of Law and College of Public Policy (CPP) in partnership with TradeLab Network, ‘Industrial Policy and the New Internationalism: How States Reassert their Power to Achieve the Twin Digital and Climate Transition’ came at a pivotal moment of shifting global economic alignment and renewed state intervention. 

Over two days, experts examined how governments are redesigning frameworks to integrate innovation, sustainability, and national competitiveness in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Discussions assessed the role of Tradelab clinics as practical development accelerators, drawing on the successes and challenges of pilot models. By linking industrial strategies with new forms of international cooperation, data-driven sustainability goals, and empowering countries across the Global South, the event highlighted actionable roadmaps for long-term and resilient growth. 

Commenting on the event, Susan L. Karamanian, Dean, College of Law, HBKU, stated: “Industrial policy is central to Qatar’s economic diversification and climate goals. As countries navigate rapid technological and environmental change, robust legal and policy scholarship is essential to ensuring long-term, competitive growth. This conference underscores HBKU’s drive to produce research that delivers informed outcomes, supporting the country’s leadership in achieving sustainable, innovation-driven development.”

Through the conference, HBKU reinforced its role as a convening platform for critical global dialogue and catalyst for practice-oriented legal and public policy education. The event aligns with the University’s mission to contribute to society through education, learning, and research that advances sustainable development, strengthens governance frameworks, and addresses national and regional priorities. Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning models, such as TradeLab clinics, position HBKU as a bridge between academia and real-world impact.