Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani; Qatar Foundation Vice-Chairperson and CEO, H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani and Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi a
DOHA: Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani said Qatar’s efforts in the field of promoting intellectual property rights has helped in protecting the national economy from the repercussions of the negative trade practices as the state has worked on developing and modernising the legislations and laws that aim to protect intellectual property rights, in compliance with the standards set by global conventions.
The Minister made the remarks at a ceremony organised by the Ministry in cooperation with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) to mark the World Intellectual Property Day. The event seeks to promote dialogue on the importance of intellectual property rights and their role in developing an encouraging and motivating environment for innovation and creativity in the society.
QF Vice-Chairperson and CEO H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani attended the event along with Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi and a number of senior officials from different government entities.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani added that intellectual property rights in Qatar are a main factor and motivation for investment, especially in light of the country’s directives to diversify income and encourage the components of the private sector, including national small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to innovate and create and increase their production. This in turn contributes to strengthening these enterprises’ capability to help in diversifying the national economy.
The Minister highlighted the creative initiatives launched by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce for the protection of intellectual property rights and trademarks through following the highest international standards in this area and providing a comprehensive electronic system of high quality to support and enable authors, copyright owners, trademarks, inventors and innovators to preserve their rights and protect their work and inventions.
Minister of Economy and Commerce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, added that the Ministry’s World Intellectual Property Day ceremony, held under the theme “Empowering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity” is consistent with the prominent achievements done by Qatari women and their efforts in raising Qatar’s name in the different international forums such as the 10th International Invention Fair in the Middle East, held recently in Kuwait.
Qatar won seven medals in the fair, with three Qatari young women winning bronze medals for their unique and creative inventions. In addition, a number of Qatari innovators won six medals; four gold and two silver, at the International Exhibition of Innovations Geneva, a new achievement for Qatar in the field of sciences, technology and innovation, the Minister added.
Sheikha Hind said that this year’s celebration focuses on the role of women in a vital field, which is research, development and innovation that QF has taken upon itself since its inception to contribute strongly to the advancement of Qatar and achieve the vision of the wise leadership to build a knowledge-based and diversified economy.
The QF vice chairperson and CEO added that QF is a role model in terms of employing women’s capabilities as researchers, inventors and innovators, highlighting that women form an integral part of the organisation’s integrated research teams as the number of female researchers in three research entities has reached 68, and their efforts contributed to 13 patents.
On the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the accompanying exhibition, participants from QF, Qatar University and Qatar Scientific Club presented their inventions and innovations in the different fields.
The celebration featured panel discussions that highlighted a number of important topics, notably the role of women in the creation of intellectual property, promotion of investment, the importance of intellectual property in developed countries and the role of education in supporting scientific research and developing intellectual property.
