For years, the State of Qatar has been keen on developing many industrial fields on its territory, within the framework of its strategic vision 2030, which works to achieve comprehensive sustainable development in all sectors.
The technology industry is considered one of the most important future fields that Qatar is entering on a large scale, with its relentless pursuit of a national industrial renaissance.
The Qatari government is working to build a knowledge-based economy, promote economic diversification that reduces dependence on oil and energy revenues, and contribute as much as possible to the development and enhancement of skills and competencies in the country.
- An oasis of technology
More than a decade ago, Qatar began to tangibly knock on the door to technology from wider gates. In 2009, it established the Qatar Science and Technology Park, which is a free zone, business center and incubator for small and medium companies, major international institutions, 8 leading international and local universities, primary and secondary schools, in addition to research centers and policy institutes, which are working on developing new high quality products and services. The technology is designed to meet local and global challenges.
During more than 10 years, 108 companies from 17 countries have worked at the Oasis and launched many technical or technology-focused programs aimed at promoting local entrepreneurship in the field of technology, as one of its 12-month programs helps entrepreneurs in developing services and products. Attracting clients from the start and exploring funding opportunities.
There are also 20 local companies in the oasis, run by 66 entrepreneurs, such as the "Medi" platform, which now serves more than two thousand doctors, "SteelC", which has signed agreements with California State University and "Tufts" University in the United States, and "Bonucle" Which won the best assistive technology in the MENA region.
Qatar Science and Technology Park also offers programs to accelerate and build an innovation mindset and instill it through the Arab Innovation Academy, which embodies a realistic vision for developing and launching technology-based projects in the world.
The Oasis also provides financing opportunities. Its Product Development Fund helps SMEs and startups develop products and services relevant to the needs of the local and regional market.
- The first plant of its kind
In a move that shows the progress of modern technology in Qatar, the Free Zones Authority announced, on May 3, 2021, the establishment of an advanced factory for the production of laptop computers in the Umm Al Houl Free Zone.
The establishment of the new factory came in partnership between "iLife Digital", a leading company in the field of smart robots and innovative electronics based in Florida, USA, and "Prime Technologies", a subsidiary of Ali Bin Ali Qatari Holding Company.
The two companies will build the 2,500-square-meter factory to produce innovative electronic devices bearing the "iLife" brand, including manufacturing laptops, personal computers, smart watches, mobile phones and other devices.
The new factory is the result of close partnership and cooperation between the free zones and the private sector, which contributes to meeting the increasing demand for affordable electronic devices in the markets of the Middle East and North Africa region.
The plant is expected to start production in August this year, and will produce up to 350,000 electronic devices annually. In addition to the production of electronic devices, the plant will support logistical activities, research and development projects, and it will also house a center to provide technology solutions to customers.
The new $ 3.5 million project will generate additional benefits nationwide, as the first-of-its-kind factory in Qatar will create 160 new jobs, including 144 job opportunities for skilled people.
- water treatment
Amidst the Qatari technical development, a team of researchers from the Qatar Institute for Environmental and Energy Research and the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad Bin Khalifa University managed, in February 2021, to develop a material for water treatment applications. Via carbon derived from carbide.
The material was developed with a unique ability to efficiently remove and recover phosphates from treated water, while removing micro-pollutants such as drugs and endocrine disrupting compounds.
This discovery is the result of work led by Ismail Al-Manasrah, PhD student at the College of Science and Engineering, under the joint supervision of Dr. Victor Kuchkudan, Principal Scientist at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, and Dr. Tariq Al-Ansari, Assistant Professor at the Qatar College of Science and Engineering.
The Water Center of Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute conducts research on water resources, water desalination, and wastewater treatment and reuse.
- Electronic carpet
With support and funding from Qatar Science and Technology Park, the "Smart Qatar Carpet" was able to see the light after about a year and a half after launching its idea, as it announced the start of its production in May 2021, to be the first smart prayer carpet in the world, equipped with a voice assistant and an indicative screen to guide worshipers, adults and children. While praying.
Designed for new Muslims and children, it was launched by the Qatari "Smart Technologies" to provide guidance on the exact method of prayer.
The smart carpet, which he called "Sajdah", includes an LED screen with loudspeakers in the front, where the screen broadcasts Quranic verses during prayer, and people can use the mobile application to choose the part they want to read during prayer specifically, and users are helped with visual representation. Step-by-step movements during prayer.
The carpet provides voice instructions in Arabic and English for greater clarity, and the smart carpet can be linked to a mobile phone for a more personalized experience.
- Service robots
The issue in Qatar is not limited to the examples mentioned, as the country has taken advanced steps in the field of technology through the distinguished education policy and advanced applied curricula. Students and researchers have designed many robots that have been recruited to serve various sectors.
In recent times, Qatari inventors have achieved amazing breakthroughs in the use of these robots in many fields such as education, health care, the workforce, and many other fields.
Among the most prominent of these robots are "sentinel robots", "delivery robots", "Amy robots" (restaurant waiters), "robots that contribute to extinguishing fires" and "Sido robots", which are designed to communicate with deaf children through sign language, in addition to the smart security robot that It was published by the Qatari government at Hamad International Airport, and many more.
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