The Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and Shell have signed an agreement with Qatar University (QU) and Texas A & M University in Qatar (TAMUQ) to help fund students from both universities taking part in this year’s Shell Eco-Marathon Asia, which will be held in Malaysia from July 4-7.Signing the agreements at a ceremony held yesterday were QSTP executive chairman Dr Tidu Maini (who is also the science and technology adviser), Shell executive vice-president Wael Sawan, TAMUQ dean and chief executive officer Dr Mark Weichold and QU vice-president (Research) Dr Hassan al-Derham.The Shell Eco-Marathon, which has been running since 1985, is a global competition for student teams to design and build ultra fuel-efficient cars.Both QU and TAMUQ have competed in the 2011 edition of the competition in Europe, making them the first teams from Qatar and the Middle East to ever compete in the global competition.This year, the universities in Qatar will again compete at the Eco-marathon Asia.Eco-marathon students are required to develop business plans, sourcing funding through sponsorships, securing technical partnerships and designing, building and driving their vehicles.The QSTP is matching the sponsorship funding the Qatari teams obtained from other sponsors and facilitating introductions of student teams to technology companies based at the QSTP.Some 400 teams from top universities, colleges and high schools worldwide compete each year in the three Shell Eco-marathon events in Europe, the US and Asia Pacific.Based on last year’s success and positive impact, a fourth chapter will be added to the global competition that will take place in Qatar in 2014, incorporating the Middle East and Africa regions to the challenge.The most fuel-efficient car ever designed by a Shell Eco-marathon student team was capable of driving 4,896.1km on a single litre of fuel – the equivalent of driving from Qatar to Paris.“With our partnership with the QSTP, we wish to provide opportunities such as the Eco-Marathon that help students realise the potentials of pursuing a technical career. I’m excited to see what the students will create this time and how they build on their classmates experience from last year,” Sawan said, adding: “I hope the competition will raise awareness on sustainability issues in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.”Dr Maini noted that the Shell Eco-Marathon was another confirmation of the QSTP’s commitment to develop Qatar as thriving knowledge and research hub.“We know that youth are our most precious resource. We see this event as an opportunity to bring the best science has to offer and make it available to young people, in an environment that they will enjoy,” he said.Weichold said: “TAMUQ’s engineering education challenges students to apply classroom concepts and knowledge to real-world engineering projects during their undergraduate studies.“Participating in Shell Eco-Marathon is enabling the university’s students to further develop their technical abilities while improving the professional skills needed to successfully collaborate on engineering teams.”Al-Derham noted: “This competition helps develop the students’ team work, business and engineering skills. It is always a great opportunity for students to see their work come to life and that has a very positive impact on them. I look forward to seeing how students benefit from this year’s competition.”