Thales strengthens partnership with QU

DOHA:  Thales, a key player in cybersecurity with a presence in the State of Qatar for over 35 years and a global leader in aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, has further strengthened its partnership with Qatar University (QU), to reinforce the transfer of knowledge in cybersecurity, by extending its sponsorship of a ‘Professional Chair’ and by providing a cutting edge Cyber Range software training platform.

This builds on the agreement Thales signed with Qatar University to sponsor a ‘Professional Chair’ in 2014. The renewed partnership on the cyber security demonstrates the trustful cooperation established between Qatar University and Thales over the years, and Thales strong commitment to support Qatar’s education sector in the long run.

With the contribution of the Cyber Range software training platform to Qatar University, developed in collaboration with Diateam, Thales offers another advanced training tool for students. Cyber Range is designed to help organisations improve their capabilities to ensure that they are adequately prepared for cyberattacks.

Cyber Range has three critical services: practice, validation and experimentation. As a training platform, it aims at developing skills to defend systems and organisations against cyber attacks. It also reproduces/simulates information and industrial systems from the simplest to the most complicated, in order to analyse their resistance to attacks. It is also a perfect tool to evaluate the products and solutions in terms of cyber security.

Commenting on the agreement, the College of Engineering Dean, Prof Abdelmagid Hammuda said: “This cooperation with Thales to renew the chair MoU which represents the good relations between academia and industry and the commitment of both to graduate highly professional engineers in different industrial areas. We are proud of this partnership which will add great value to education and research at QU and which will contribute significantly to Qatar’s society as a whole.”

Frederic Sallet, Qatar VP, Country Director of Thales Group, said: “The sponsorship of the Professional Chair for cybersecurity by Thales has achieved tangible results with Qatar University, developing stronger skillsets and access to knowledge based on this important topic that is central to the digital transformation shaping Qatar today in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.”

Pierre Jeanne, VP cybersecurity solutions and technologies of Thales, said: “This is a great example of the long-term partnerships that we foster with academia to nurture the skills of Qatar next generation talents. As a key partner in the development of defence capacities and infrastructure of the country, including ambitious projects such as Doha Metro, Lusail LRT or Hamad Port, we are committed to promoting Qatari talents, especially in advanced technology.”