Culture not a barrier to creative thinking and innovations

The negative stereotype that people’s  adherence to their culture is an anathema to innovations was strongly challenged at Vodafone Qatar’s Innovation Day.  
Participating in a panel discussion at a corporate event hosted by Vodafone Qatar to mark its Innovation Day, a young Qatari CEO  took strong exceptions to the argument that the culture and heritage are hampering free thinking , innovations and explorations in this part of the world.
Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, Chief  Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank (QDB) said : ” Innovation is an ecosystem by itself. It always challenges assumptions. Culture doesn’t stop us stop us from speaking out our mind and thinking out of the box. We are a young population.Young generation across the globle are receptive to  innovative ideas.”
Responding to moderator Dr Tommy Weir’s question Abdulaziz said: “Qatar is a country that has earmarked 2.7 percent of its GDP for education and innovations. ‘If you ask for real innovation stories from Qatar, the answer is No. But the answer to your question that are we in right path of innovations? the answer is a big Yes’….”.
“Yes, we are strongly attached to our culture and heritage. And we are proud of our heritage and culture. But I am proud to say that we are innovative. We are a young generation ready to address the present challenge and future challenges” he said as the audience greeted his comments with a thunderous applause.
Innovation is one of the key pillars of Qatar’s ambitious 2030 National Vision. The country is blessed with the demographic dividend of young population. Young minds are always receptive to fresh ideas and innovations.
On QDB’s role in innovation, Abdulaziz said the Qatar Development Bank encourages entrepreneurs to be innovative. QDB motivate them and help equip them to be innovative. “Now they have started coming out with amazing products. These products are very effective and innovative in the market. Qatar is the first country in the region to set up incubation centre exclusively dedicated to innovation.”
Private innovators are trying their hands at tech startups and many of these products have hit the market and are found effective.  Dr Ahmad Hasnah, President of HBKU said: “When we talk about innovation, one needs to look at full spectrum. Qatar  as a young country is engaging  with  different sectors at the same time. We cannot limit Innovations just to technology sector.”
As a university, Innovation is in the DNA of HBK. The role of the university is to empower young minds to think out of the box. The university’s role is to motivate them to look into the future and move  forwad. At HBK, we adopt a multi-disciplinary approach. We are looking at the problems in a different way…”, he said.
Guest speaker Daniel Burrus who is considered one of the world’s leading futurists on global trends and innovation said, “Advanced mobility will transform every business process in the next five years.