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Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has been named a ‘Startup Ecosystem Star’ by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge. The ‘Startup Ecosystem Stars (SES) Awards 2025’ recognise institutions that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, sustained impact, and comprehensive excellence in developing innovation ecosystems worldwide.  The award was presented during a ceremony held at the ICC Headquarters in Paris, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission, with support from Microsoft. In its third edition, the SES Awards recognised QDB for its significant contributions to fostering innovation across three categories: ‘Best-in-class Startup Programmes’, ‘Outstanding Investment Boost’, and ‘Exceptional Industry Support’.  Recognition across these categories highlights the bank's comprehensive approach to creating a nurturing, flexible and competitive environment for startups, while reinforcing its position as a key driver of innovation within the global entrepreneurship ecosystem.  The milestone reflects QDB’s commitment to providing entrepreneurs with a comprehensive support ecosystem, from training and advisory services to incubation and acceleration programmes.  It also highlights the bank’s leading role in advancing the venture capital landscape by attracting local and international investment, promoting the role of the private sector, supporting exports, and enabling the growth of the national industrial sector through close collaboration with partners and relevant stakeholders across the country.  The SES Awards 2025 are among the most prominent global awards dedicated to evaluating key players within innovation ecosystems. Winners are selected by an international jury comprising leading global experts and representatives of international organisations.  The award underscores QDB’s position as a leading development institution in the region and a key enabler of entrepreneurial growth, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for innovation at local, regional, and international levels.

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, will host "Unmasking the Mind: How Art, Sound & Story Heal Us", a public panel discussion on October 8. The session coincides with the activities held to mark Mental Health Awareness month, and underscores Mathaf's commitment to mental health advocacy and community wellbeing by offering an inclusive platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, as well as exploring the role of effective creative expression in improving mental health. Through hosting this event, Mathaf demonstrates how museums and cultural institutions can actively contribute to public health, providing safe spaces where art, music, and psychology intersect to break stigma and open new possibilities for healing. This initiative also reflects Mathaf's broader commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together clinical psychologists, artists, and musicians to explore innovative approaches to wellbeing. Indeed, the panel discussion underscores Mathaf's dedication to empowering the public with knowledge, encouraging participation, and nurturing a culture of open conversations around mental health. The panel will address the intersection of art, music, and psychology, and the role of creativity as both a means of artistic expression and a therapeutic tool. The panel will feature a number of specialists, including: Dr. Zhivka Pesheva, clinical psychologist, life coach and musician, Dr. Marta Casillas, clinical psychologist, Olga Velcheva, musician and sound therapist and Ramzi Bou Kamel, musician. The session coincides with Qatar Museums' 20th anniversary celebrations, which coincides with the launch of its "Evolution Nation", an 18-month campaign celebrating Qatar's cultural journey, from the founding of the Qatar's National Museum to the its established system of cultural institutions.