QF RDI, QDB host workshop for startups
QATAR Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) recently co-hosted a training workshop designed to empower technologybased startups and SMEs with tools to protect their digital platforms.
The workshop brought together officials from QF RDI and QDB, along with Qatar’s leading technology entrepreneurs, who shared their knowledge and expertise on why developing digital assets is key to building a successful business, and how startups can protect their technologies.
Dr Richard O’Kennedy, vicepresident for Research, Development and Innovation at Qatar Foundation, said: “Empowering local startups and training them on how to protect their platforms is instrumental to the longterm success of their businesses.”
The workshop, took place at St Regis Doha, explored the link between intellectual property (IP) and technology development, and their contributions to promoting local innovation.
Ibrahim al Mannai, executive director of Advisory and Incubation at QDB, said: “It is imperative for us to ease access to information for the entrepreneurs’ network by creating awareness and spreading knowledge about entrepreneurship.”
Jassim al Subaie, officer of learning and development at QDB, emphasised the importance of protecting IP in the successful development of new technologies, while John McEntire, director of Industry Development
and Knowledge Transfer, QF RDI, addressed how knowledge transfer can foster innovation and offered tips on best practices to protect digital assets.
Fahad al Naimi, president and co-founder of Ebdaa for Digital Technology Inc., creator of leading digital platforms such as MzadQatar, Syaanh, Twffer.com and Qckly, shared his experience in creating and developing some of the most successful Qatar-based ecommerce and digital business platforms.