DOHA: For the first time in the Arab World, the International Association of Science Parks World Conference (IASP2014) was convened in Doha yesterday.
IASP2014, the 31st world conference of International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation, was inaugurated by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Visionary Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, together with Rick Weddle, ISAP President, at Qatar National Convention Centre.
The three-day conference is being held under the theme ‘Science Parks; where Technology Goes to Work,’ highlighting the need to transform research into practice. The event is hosted by Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).
In 2012, Qatar Foundation Research & Development’s Qatar Science and Technology Park won a competitive bid to host the conference.
“It’s significant that the conference is held in Doha.
“It indicates the recognition of Qatar and the region as the driving force in the area of science, technology and innovation,” said Hamad Al Kuwari, Managing Director, QSTP and Head of IASP 2014 Doha Organising Committee.
On the importance of science and technology parks, he said, “Science parks are incubators fostering the environment required for fast commercialisation of research and bringing technology to the market.”
More than 400 delegates attended the opening session, along with entrepreneurs, tech leaders and policymakers.
The conference aims to explore challenges and opportunities of innovation management, with experts and policymakers setting the agenda for science and technology hubs around the world.
In his keynote speech, Chad Hurley, Co-Founder of YouTube — the world’s largest and most popular video sharing site and the third most visited site — shared his experience.
He discussed the rise of YouTube and managing its meteoric growth.
With entrepreneurs in Qatar and delegates at the summit, he shared lessons learned from his experience.
“The YouTube experience taught me that a small group of individuals with the same vision can make a difference and I believe this is very similar to any science and technology park aiming to achieve its goals.
“My advice to all entrepreneurs and innovators in Qatar is to surround themselves with great individuals who are ready to create solutions for the greater good.
“I still feel there is a tremendous opportunity for videos as a platform… There is opportunity because the world is always waiting for more,” he added.
DOHA: Companies dedicated to research have occupied 95 percent of Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) within its five years of operations, said a senior official.
Forty international and local companies are in QSTP, Hamad Al Kuwari, Managing Director, QSTP, told a press conference on the sidelines of IASP2014.
“In the first phase we focused on infrastructure, only five percent of occupancy is vacant. In the second phase, we will look how we can cater to entrepreneurs, support and help them implement their ideas into businesses,” he added.
Al Kuwari said QSTP is not a research entity, although it collaborated for some research in the past. “QSTP initially was involved in some research, but it’s only an incubator of research.”
Rick Weddle, President, IASP, Luis Sanz, Director-General, IASP, Dr Ismail Array, General Manager, Istanbul Technology Park, and Mohamed Hamad Al Masaki, Director-General, Knowledge OSIS Muscut-Oman’s Technology Park, were present.
To a question about challenges in the field of science and technology in the region, Al Masaki said they differ from country to country, however some like availability of talent are common.
“Challenges vary, but availability of talent, maturity in putting research into practice, standard of education in universities to support research, gap between education and needs of the market are common problems,” he said, adding funding for research is a problem in some countries in the region. The Peninsula
