Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council concluded the Web Summit Qatar 2025 participation with two Memorandums of Understandings (MoU), one each with the Ministry of Labour and Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre, and with the announcement of the winners of the Rising Innovators Award.

Omar Ali al-Ansari, secretary-general at QRDI Council said: “These two significant Memorandums of Understandings reflect our dedicated commitment to advancing the country’s use of innovation in the public sector. Our partnerships with Itqan and the Ministry of Labour represent an important step toward enhancing Qatar's healthcare landscape and advancing the country’s digital transformation."

The MoU with Itqan will strengthen the collaboration and drive innovation in Qatar’s healthcare sector. This strategic partnership will focus on developing a strong healthcare RDI strategy, supporting the creation of key policies and regulations to foster research and innovation. Both parties will collaborate on launching joint research initiatives, addressing national healthcare challenges, and identifying opportunities for open innovation to advance technology solutions. The collaboration aims to build RDI capabilities, improve sector performance, and contribute to the overall growth of healthcare research and innovation in Qatar.

The Ministry of Labour and the QRDI Council have formalised collaboration to enhance certificate authentication through blockchain technology. This initiative aims to streamline and secure the credential verification process, marking a significant step in Qatar's digital transformation. This agreement paves the way for a more efficient, secure, and innovative approach to certificate authentication in Qatar’s labour sector.

QRDI Council also announced the winners of the Rising Innovators Award, an initiative aimed at empowering undergraduate and graduate students and inspiring the next generation of innovators. This new award provides students with a platform to showcase their pioneering ideas and solutions, positioning them for global recognition. The shortlisted projects were invited to present their ideas at the QRDI Council pavilion during the Web Summit.

The Modular Automatic Sorting Hub project, presented by students from Doha University of Science and Technology, won the first place. The second place was shared by the AI-powered Sharia Bot project, presented by a student from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and the Electronic Medical Triage System project presented by a student from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar.

Aysha Abdulhameed al-Mudahka, RDI senior programme director at QRDI Council said: “At QRDI Council, we are proud to support and nurture the next generation of innovators. The Rising Innovators Award represents our commitment to encouraging creativity, collaboration, and new solutions among young minds. Announcing the award winners at Web Summit Qatar is significant, as it provides these students with a global stage to showcase their ideas and gain international recognition.”

QRDI Council also hosted a series of sessions with both local and international partner. The day began with the session “Boost Your R&D Growth with QRDI's Tech Development Grant,” offering valuable insights on supporting research and development in the tech sector. The discussions continued with a session titled 'Beyond Smart: AI, Startups & the Future of Cities', exploring the role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of urban landscapes. The focus then shifted to 'Bridging Capital & Innovation: The Startup Journey', presented by Start-Up Qatar, offering a deep dive into the startup ecosystem and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

A highlight of the day was the session "Qatar & Sweden: Powering Deep Tech Innovation," in collaboration with Ignite Sweden, a non-profit organisation dedicated to creating stronger connections between Qatar’s startup scene, established companies, and public organisations.