Qatar Foundation (QF) and Web Summit have unveiled a new partnership with volunteerism, research, education, and the sharing of knowledge at its core.
The opening day of Web Summit Qatar 2026 saw the signing of a three-year collaboration agreement that reflects QF and Web Summit’s collective belief in empowering and inspiring drivers of positive change.
The agreement will provide QF students and alumni with real-world volunteering experience and access to Web Summit’s Volunteer Programme, which connects them to global innovation communities and opens up worldwide networking opportunities with tech founders, investors, and experts.
QF and Web Summit will also collaborate to study the economic, social, and technological impact of Web Summit Qatar, and of QF’s involvement in the event, as it showcases to the world the Middle East’s rising status as a hub of, and destination for, technology development.
Yousif al-Naama, CEO of QF, said: “Volunteerism and human-centric innovation share the purpose of contributing to the growth, strength, and wellbeing of individuals and communities, and through this collaboration agreement, Qatar Foundation and Web Summit are bringing them together with the goal of deepening our nation’s technology talent pool, empowering our youth, and benefiting our society.
“By collaborating with such a dynamic global organisation as Web Summit, we are extending the opportunities for exposure to the world of technology innovation and entrepreneurship that we offer our current students and our ever-growing alumni community. The access to networks of knowledge and expertise, and the experiences they will gain, through being part of Web Summit’s Volunteer Programme will undoubtedly enrich their skills, expand their horizons, and magnify the impact they can bring to Qatar, the region, and the world.”
Paddy Cosgrave, founder and CEO of Web Summit, said: “This partnership between Web Summit and Qatar Foundation doesn’t just connect talent from the region to global tech ecosystems. It opens pathways in Doha, home to Web Summit Qatar, and in Lisbon, Rio, and Vancouver, bringing together two organisations that believe in fostering talent and ambition, and in connecting some of the brightest minds with opportunities.
“Qatar Foundation has built a world-class platform for education, research, and innovation, backing the next generation to push boundaries. We are proud to be undertaking this journey with Qatar Foundation.”
The collaboration will enable Web Summit Qatar’s international attendees to visit and gain insight into QF’s unique ecosystem of knowledge, and how its Education City campus integrates education, research and innovation, and inclusive community development platforms and opportunities. Academic collaborations – potentially including joint initiatives such as the Web Summit Academic Bursary Programme, which attracts leading academics and researchers to Web Summit events – and the expanded participation of experts from the QF community on Web Summit platforms also form part of the agreement.
