Students from Qatar Foundation (QF) schools have achieved a new milestone by securing first place at the 18th National Scientific Research and Innovation Exhibition 2026.
Organised by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in collaboration with the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council, the National Scientific Research and Innovation Exhibition is one of Qatar’s leading platforms for showcasing student-led research and innovation projects that addresses real-world challenges and contribute to a knowledge-based society.
Three QF schools participated in this year’s exhibition with 11 student research projects, three of which advanced to the final stage, representing both the primary and secondary school levels. The finalist projects came from Qatar Academy for Science and Technology, Qatar Academy Doha, and Tariq Bin Ziad Primary School.
The project “Expogenia: Pathology Classification through the use of Hierarchical Machine Learning,” presented by Jassim al-Ansari and Malek Hussien of Qatar Academy for Science and Technology, was awarded first place in the Computing and Information Systems category. The achievement highlights students’ ability to leverage advanced technologies and scientific research to develop innovative solutions with practical impact.
Sara H al-Hajri, executive director, Student Affairs & Community Engagement at QF’s Pre-University Education, said: “This achievement reflects the educational approach embraced by QF schools, which nurtures students’ curiosity, encourages inquiry and critical thinking, and empowers them to transform ideas into research projects and innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and serve society.
“We believe that education extends beyond the acquisition of knowledge. It is about empowering students to apply what they learn to create positive impact and contribute to building a better future.”
Highlighting the significance of investing in students’ research and innovation capabilities from an early age, al-Hajri said: “Through our integrated educational ecosystem, we continue to nurture a new generation of researchers, innovators, and leaders who are equipped to contribute to a knowledge-based economy and drive progress and innovation in Qatar and beyond.”
Also advancing to the final stage were the project “SignBridge: An AI System Translating English and Arabic Speech into American Sign Language for Inclusive Communication in Qatar School”, developed Almayasa Alkhal, Lina Mouqbil from Qatar Academy Doha, and “Horse Tail Movement Analysis for Emotion Detection School”, developed by Al Reem Khalid Al Naama , Noora Yousif Alkuwari from Tariq Bin Ziad Primary School.
In addition, the project “Expogenia” received a Special Award from Google, while “SignBridge” earned two Special Awards, one from Google and another from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, recognising the projects’ innovation and potential impact.
As part of its commitment to supporting emerging talent, QF’s Gifted Hub, under the PUE’s Student Affairs and Community Engagement Department, provided a special award at the exhibition. Two student projects were selected to receive additional support, enabling them to further develop their research and transform their ideas into projects with sustainable impact.