Director Business Development at QSTP, Ahmed A. Al-Said
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s innovation ecosystem has remained resilient despite ongoing regional uncertainties, with startups, investors, and research partners continuing to engage actively through Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar Foundation.
QSTP’s ecosystem has been built to ensure continuity, allowing innovation programs and startup support to continue uninterrupted even during challenging times.
“Qatar’s innovation ecosystem is built for continuity, and that shows in how our community has operated over recent weeks,” Director Business Development at QSTP, Ahmed A. Al-Said told The Peninsula.
“At Qatar Science & Technology Park, we have kept moving; not just maintaining what exists but actively building on it.”
He said that in recent weeks, QSTP maintained engagement through 12 online workshops that reached more than 1,100 participants, alongside five pitching sessions and six targeted mentorship engagements.
“These initiatives ensure that startups continue to access guidance, feedback, and opportunities for growth in a consistent and structured way,” he said.
Al-Said added that QSTP’s accelerator programs have continued online and are scheduled to resume on the ground in Qatar as planned. He also highlighted preparations for a new season of Stars of Science, Qatar Foundation’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship television program.
“We also continue to see strong diversity across our ecosystem, with active startups representing 39 countries, reflecting sustained global engagement and confidence,” he said.
Addressing investor confidence amid recent geopolitical developments, Al-Said said engagement from investors and partners has remained steady, while research and development activity continues without disruption.
“Investor confidence is something you earn over time, and what we’re seeing at QSTP is that the track record holds,” he said. “Engagement from partners has remained steady and R&D activity across the ecosystem hasn’t skipped a beat.”
He pointed to strong global participation in two major accelerator programmes as evidence of continued confidence. The QSTP x TotalEnergies WaterTech Accelerator received 226 applications from 79 countries, while the QSTP x Merck FemTech Accelerator attracted 242 applications from 64 countries, with 71 percent of applicants being women-led startups.
“Together, these figures indicate sustained global interest and confidence in the platform we offer,” he said.
QSTP currently hosts more than 400 companies, including multinational corporations, and Al-Said said strong growth is being seen across energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and health technology sectors.
“Two areas stand out as leading priorities across our ecosystem,” he said. “First, foundational AI, including machine learning, data infrastructure, and applied intelligence, is driving momentum across virtually every industry. Second, Healthtech is seeing significant growth, with innovators developing practical applications that measurably improve outcomes.”
He added that the strongest growth is coming from startups that combine deep technology capabilities with practical, real-world applications. Discussing Qatar’s competitiveness as a regional innovation hub, Al-Said said the country offers more than financial incentives.
“Competitiveness isn’t just about incentives, it’s about whether a company can come here, build something meaningful, and stay,” he said.
He highlighted regulatory clarity, infrastructure readiness, and a strong talent pipeline as key strengths.
“Through QSTP, companies benefit from access to world-class facilities, incentive programmes, research and development grants, and a network of academic and research institutions within the Qatar Foundation ecosystem,” he said.
He also emphasised Qatar’s highly skilled graduates from national universities and international branch campuses, describing them as a major differentiator for companies looking to establish long-term operations.
On women’s participation in innovation and entrepreneurship, Al-Said said “The 300” initiative has been designed to strengthen inclusive participation, particularly in angel investing and early-stage startup funding.
“The 300 initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening inclusive participation in the innovation ecosystem, particularly by addressing gaps in early-stage investment and access,” he said.
The programme has grown to a community of more than 300 members, with 45 participants receiving certificates of completion. Across eight structured sessions, the initiative recorded strong participation, including 66 attendees in the final session.
“Beyond participation, the focus is highly practical,” he said. “The programme equips women with investment fundamentals, exposure to real startup case studies, and direct interaction with founders across the ecosystem.”
He said the goal is to help women move from participation to active leadership in shaping Qatar’s startup ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Al-Said said QSTP will continue prioritising deep technology and applied innovation in sectors that support Qatar’s long-term economic diversification goals.
“Our focus will remain on deep tech and applied innovation across key sectors: Healthtech, foundational AI, including machine learning, data infrastructure, and applied intelligence,” he said.
