Davos: The Qatar Foundation has spotlighted Qatar's burgeoning deep tech ecosystem at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2026, emphasizing innovation and partnership potential on the global stage.
According to Qatar News Agency, key figures from Qatar's technology sector discussed transforming breakthrough ideas into impactful, real-world solutions during a session at the Qatar Pavilion. Here, leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society worldwide gathered to address pressing global and regional issues.
The session, co-hosted by Qatar Foundation (QF), Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council, focused on deep tech-technologies capable of radically transforming industries, economies, and societies. The discussion explored creating environments conducive to advancing such technologies for the benefit of nations and individuals.
Titled 'Re-engineering Ecosystems: Powering the Next Wave of Deep Tech Innovation', the discussion featured Omar Al Ansari, Secretary General of the QRDI Council, Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, CEO of Qatar Development Bank, and Rama Chakaki, President of QSTP. They shared insights into supporting deep tech ventures in Qatar, meeting founders' needs, enabling innovation through collaboration, and positioning Qatar as a hub for deep tech development and scaling.
Chakaki highlighted QSTP's role in helping deep tech founders progress from concept to application, emphasizing the draw of global expertise while nurturing Qatar's tech innovation talent. She described QSTP as a "deep tech impact hub" and encouraged regional companies looking to scale and create impact to join the ecosystem. Chakaki noted, "Geopolitics are in our favor," as Qatar's favorable environment attracts exceptional talent, enriching the ecosystem.
QF also hosted a session titled 'The Power of Partnerships: Collaborations to Deliver Impact', focusing on strategic collaborations in education, innovation, and other areas. These partnerships, exemplified by QF's ecosystem, are seen as vital in converting national priorities into global outcomes, attracting investors, and accelerating startup growth. Habes Howail, Government Partnerships Manager at QF, emphasized the importance of purpose, trust, shared responsibility, and co-creation in successful partnerships.
Jake Evans, Director of Freuds Group, and Michael Lints, Partner at Golden Gates Ventures, discussed the elements of credible global partnerships that fuel growth and attract investors. Lints praised the impact of co-investments with Qatari entities, noting Qatar's attractiveness for expansion, research, and innovation.
Additionally, the Davos event featured QatarDebate, co-hosting a session on women in leadership, while Chakaki spoke on building inclusive AI. Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of QF's Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, shared insights on leveraging localized data for nature investment and climate change solutions at another session.