HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser opens the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) World Conference with IASP President, Rick Weddle, at the Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. RIGHT: HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser at the opening of the 31st International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation World Conference, with YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley and IASP President Rick Weddle PICTURES: Maher Attar/HHOPL
By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), opened the 31st World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) hosted by Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) at Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday.
This is the first time the conference is held in the Arab world in which over 500 members of science and technology parks from all over the world are taking part. The four-day conference is being held under theme “Science parks: where technology goes to work.”
Hamad al- Kuwari, managing director QSTP said: “The conference will chart the course of action in the coming years for the technology parks around the world. The challenges faced by the technology parks will be an important agenda of the conference.”
Al- Kuwari noted that the hosting of the conference underscores the role of QSTP in furthering innovation and technology in the region.
He said: “QSTP was established to attract local and international entities to set up research facilities within the science park to tackle issues related to energy, environment, health and information and communication technology. We are at 95% occupancy level now and we have a variety of organisations both national and international actively involved in research.”
He said: “The first phase has paid off well, and during the second phase we are planning to support innovators and entrepreneurs, especially the youth who are graduating from the universities. We will provide support for those who come with innovative ideas. This will be in the areas of commercialisation to business planning to legal and financial support to nurture the ideas into realities.”
Rick Weddle, international president, IASP, said that the conference was a great occasion to listen to evolving ideas and concepts from around the world.
“This is an occasion to learn from the best of the best and know and hear about technology from our friends and peers in the science and technology park movement. It also confirms the concept of technology park in a big way as they provide channels of communication and contacts with various companies.”
Luis Sanz, director general of IASP, said that it was a very impressive conference with the participation of so many delegates.
“With more than 70 countries taking part in the conference, it is a great occasion for interaction and exchange of ideas and experience. It also affirms the ideas that the human touch of meeting and discussing things with friends and colleagues is the most important aspect despite the fact that the world is so well connected with internet and modern technologies.”
Chad Hurley, co-founder of YouTube, gave the keynote speech during the inaugural session.
IASP is the worldwide network of science parks and areas of innovation. IASP connects the professionals managing science, technology and research parks (STPs) and other areas of innovation and provide services that drive growth and effectiveness for their members.
The conference will cover three main sub-themes, role of STPs as technology development catalysts, models of co-operation between universities and companies and the role that STPs can or should play, STPs and their resident companies, STPs are mainly oriented towards smaller businesses.
What is the role of large corporations and multinationals in STPs?
How can STPs establish stronger links with big corporations and amongst its tenant companies?
