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DOHA: Qatar’s primary incubator for technology development, Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), hosted the second Demo Day for its flagship three-month long ‘Accelerator Programme’.
QSTP is part of Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D).
The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation and facilitate the transformation of inspiring ideas into feasible products that address market demands.
Providing entrepreneurs in Qatar with comprehensive training that helps them turn an idea into a prototype, the ‘Accelerator Programme’ is part of QF’s approach to research and development.
In collaboration with key partners, including Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s ‘Challenge 22’initiative, nine participants underwent robust training under the supervision of business and technology experts.
Offering innovative solutions to trending business needs, such as media technology, personal life, health and fitness, education and entertainment, the Demo Day featured nine innovative projects — V3V; Tweet Mogaz; Aingel; Gamified Self; Metis; EcoGym; Ergonomic T-Shirt; MaktApp; and Braille Touch.
Hamad Al Kuwari, Managing Director, QSTP, said, “Transforming technological and scientific ideas into marketing products is a long process, and the ‘Accelerator Programme’ is designed to walk the long path of product development alongside young innovators. This stems from our belief that establishing change in our economies requires hard work, progressive policies and the ability to take calculated risks. Cooperation of educational establishments, scientific laboratories and industrial enterprises on an ongoing basis is highly valuable in supporting outstanding thinkers and creators in our communities such as the ones hosted by this Demo Day.”
Several innovative entrepreneurial ideas were presented, including ‘Tweet Mogaz’, a news portal that generates news from social media posts of individual users. It aims to report unique news stories in real-time, measure public opinion and open new dimensions around the utilisation of social media.
The ‘Accelerator Programme’ is an intensive three-month initiative to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with training and mentorship to help them take their ideas to the market. It combines funding and mentoring, setting out three objectives or outcomes for those accepted into the programme: Create a conceptual prototype; verify commercial viability; and access potential investors.
The Peninsula
