Doha, Qatar: The innovation landscape in Qatar is advancing and developing at an exceptionally fast pace, attributed to a range of strategic government policies and remarkable initiatives from the private sector. This progress has positioned Qatar as one of the most appealing locations in the region, an industry expert has said.
Speaking to The Peninsula recently on the sidelines of an event, CEO of Ibtechar Nayef Al-Ibrahim noted that one of the signs of the impressive development is a recent white paper on emerging innovation labs in Qatar, which garnered significant interest, evidenced by numerous downloads from public and private entities.
“This enthusiasm culminated in over 100 registrations for our Majlis session within just two days, signalling a strong appetite for learning and collaboration. The diverse stakeholder representation further underscores an openness to innovation, where successes and failures are harnessed for societal benefit,” Al-Ibrahim said.
Qatar’s innovation landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, bold in ambition and broad in scope. One of the most striking developments is the country’s leap in global rankings: in the 2025 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Innovation Index, Qatar advanced to 48th place, up from 70th six years ago — a clear indicator of the nation’s strengthened ecosystem for R&D, entrepreneurship, and technology uptake.
Al-Ibrahim added that, considering its importance, innovation is probably going to become one of the major themes to focus on for at least the next five years.
“By focusing on upskilling the workforce and enhancing private sector contributions, innovation is set to become a transformative force,” he said.
Ibtechar recently launched its Majlis session series, which aims to contribute significantly to the nation’s push toward a knowledge-based economy.
According to him, this open platform aims to foster dialogue, where individuals from diverse sectors can share opinions, experiences, and insights to drive collective progress.
The inaugural event, titled “Imagining a Public Innovation Lab for Qatar,” explored opportunities and challenges in establishing such a lab, bringing together key stakeholders to enrich the discussion.
Al-Ibrahim emphasised the collaborative nature of the Majlis, hosting representatives from the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council, the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
“Each organisation contributes unique perspectives: from ecosystem enabling and policy frameworks to practical implementation and capacity building. This multifaceted approach ensures that outcomes inform better planning and models, benefiting decision-makers and the broader community,” he said.
He noted that future sessions will delve into various facets of innovation capacity building, such as public innovation labs, solutions development, and broader ecosystem enhancements.
“While the frequency — monthly, quarterly, or biannual — will depend on audience interest and topic relevance, the goal is to maintain high-value discussions that resonate widely,” Al-Ibrahim said.
Al-Ibrahim said he envisions the Majlis as a knowledge hub for polite yet robust debates, promoting agreement and disagreement in pursuit of collective advancement.
“This initiative not only addresses current gaps but also propels future progress by aligning with NDSA3’s emphasis on innovation-driven growth,” he added.
