Qatar Research, Development and Innovation

What Qatar Research, Development and Innovation does

Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council is the State of Qatar's national body for coordinating research, development, and innovation, established in 2018 and headquartered at ThinkBay, Education City, Doha. It operates under a national mandate aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, organizing activity around five priority areas: Energy, Health, Resource Sustainability, Community, and Digital Technology. QRDI's core functions include strategy-setting (QRDI 2030), grant distribution via programs such as the Academic Research Program (up to 2.7M QAR per 3-year project), National Research Program, Technology Development Grant, Qatar Open Innovation Program, Corporate Innovation Leaders Program, SME Program, and the Qatar-Spain Innovation Program (QASIP, up to 1.5M QAR/year for up to 3 years), as well as talent pipeline development through the Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) and Graduate Student Research Assistantship (GSRA).

Its principal technology and platform assets are the Qatar RDI Portal (launched 2021, updated 2023) and the InnoLight portal (connect.qrdi.org.qa), which connect 36 government, corporate, university, hospital, and laboratory entities across 258 facilities and 3,262 pieces of equipment, and serve as the digital hub for program applications and ecosystem coordination. QRDI does not sell commercial products; its revenue model is government budget allocation directed toward RDI ecosystem development, augmented by co-funding programs with international partners such as Spain's CDTI. It serves government ministries, universities and research institutions (including Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and national research institutes such as QCRI, QEERI, QBRI), large local enterprises and MNCs (Qatar Airways, Ooredoo, Sidra Medicine, Kahramaa, Baladna, Milaha, Qatar Development Bank), and SMEs/startups.

QRDI's go-to-market is sales-led and government-anchored, engaging stakeholders through direct institutional relationships (MoUs, cooperation agreements, joint programs), with 37 major local enterprises participating in the Corporate Innovation Leaders Program. The Council operates a small core team (11-50 employees) and relies on partners such as Alchemist Accelerator (corporate innovation training), Invest Qatar (foreign R&D attraction), Qatar Development Bank (SME Program co-implementation), and international partners (imec, CDTI, Enterprise Singapore, British Council, Uzbekistan MoHESI) to deliver program capacity. Recent strategic activity (2025-2026) has emphasized advanced compute, semiconductors (imec regional R&D hub, HBKU Integrated Circuits master's program), regulatory AI (CRA generative AI chatbot pilot), and urban innovation (Lusail living lab MoU with Qatari Diar), with QIA's Fund of Funds expanded from $1bn to $3bn at Web Summit Qatar 2026 to back the broader RDI capital stack.

Name

Qatar Research, Development and Innovation

Legal name

Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council

Website

https://qrdi.org.qa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

QRDI Council is Qatar's national research, development, and innovation coordination body, distributing government grants and managing programs that connect universities, corporates, SMEs, and talent to advance Qatar National Vision 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Development Funding Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Research development funding
• National innovation programs
• Talent development programs
• Open innovation challenges
• Corporate innovation partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Doha

HQ country

Qatar

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. National RDI Funding and Grants: QRDI Council acts as Qatar's national RDI funding and coordination body, distributing government grants, managing research funds through Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), and providing funding through programs such as Academic Research Program (up to 2.7 million QAR for 3 years), National Research Program, and Technology Development Grant. Revenue is derived from national budget allocations directed toward RDI ecosystem development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

QRDI Council serves as Qatar's national RDI funding and coordination body, distributing government grants, managing research funds through Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), and operating programs across academic research, national research, talent development, corporate innovation, and SME support. It connects researchers, innovators, and institutions to funding opportunities and collaboration platforms including the InnoLight Portal and Qatar RDI Portal.

Product overview

Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council operates a comprehensive portfolio of programs and platforms supporting Qatar's national RDI ecosystem. The core offering includes the InnoLight Portal, a national platform for researchers and innovators to access funding and collaboration opportunities. The program suite comprises funding programs (Academic Research Program, National Research Program, Qatar-Spain Innovation Program), talent development initiatives (Talent Development Program, UREP, Graduate Scholarship Program), innovation support (Qatar Open Innovation Program, SME Program, Corporate Innovation Leaders Program), and strategic digital initiatives. These programs collectively support Qatar's transition toward a knowledge-based economy aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• InnoLight Portal A national electronic platform that facilitates communication and strategic collaboration among the innovation and research community stakeholders, connecting researchers and innovators with funding opportunities and institutional resources.
• Academic Research Program A QRDI-supported program managed by QNRF that funds research and development institutions to conduct research producing new knowledge, enhancing scientific understanding, and supporting graduate student education. Grants up to 2.7 million QAR per project over 3 years.
• National Research Program
• Talent Development Program
• Qatar Open Innovation Program (QOI) The first national program of its kind that invites local and global innovators to submit technological innovations in Qatar to meet the needs of local large companies and government entities through open innovation challenges.
• Corporate Innovation Leaders Program
• SME Program
• Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)
• Qatar-Spain Innovation Program (QASIP) A collaborative funding initiative with Spain's CDTI supporting joint private sector-led innovation projects, with joint funding of up to 1,500,000 Qatari Riyals per year for up to three years.
• Rising Innovators Award
• Qatar RDI Portal National electronic platform facilitating communication and strategic collaboration among Qatar's innovation and research community, connecting 36 entities, 258 facilities, 3,262 pieces of equipment, and 265 services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5811+ students trained across 1540 projects under UREP since 2006
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026CRA and QRDI Council signed a cooperation agreement at Web Summit Qatar 2026 to collaborate on digital innovation initiatives. The partnership includes a pilot project to deploy a generative AI-powered chatbot for enhancing multi-channel consumer engagement and improving regulatory services efficiency in Qatar. The initiative supports Qatar's National Vision 2030 and digital transformation agenda.
• Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026HBKU and QRDI Council signed a strategic partnership at Web Summit Qatar 2026, under which QRDI provides up to $1 million in funding for HBKU's master's program in Integrated Circuits and Intelligent Systems Design. The program develops skilled workforce in semiconductor technologies, integrated circuits, embedded systems, and AI-enabled hardware architectures aligned with Qatar's national RDI priorities.
• imec (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Belgium's imec, a leading nanoelectronics and digital technologies research organization, is exploring establishing a regional R&D site in Qatar's Science and Technology Park following an invitation from Invest Qatar and QRDI Council. The partnership focuses on advanced compute architecture for AI, semiconductor innovation, AI-enabled ASIC design, and chip-based applications in healthcare, automotive, and communications.
• Invest QatarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Invest Qatar and QRDI jointly supported imec's establishment of a regional R&D hub in Qatar, with the facility opening in early 2026 in Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). The hub focuses on advanced compute architectures for AI, chip design through IC-Link, and deep-tech innovations for sustainable society applications, targeting 100 employees by 2030.
• British CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025QRDI Council collaborated with the British Council and the British Embassy in Qatar to deliver the Research Excellence Workshop in Qatar — a three-day intensive program for early to mid-career researchers, designed to equip them with skills and mindset for excellence in the global research environment.
• Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025QRDI Council and Qatari Diar signed an MoU to transform Lusail into a living innovation hub. The collaboration aims to establish Lusail as a knowledge city and robust testing platform for innovation, bringing together modern technologies and an innovation ecosystem through AI, mobility, digital infrastructure, and sustainable urban systems.
• Qatar Development Bank (QDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025QRDI Council, in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank and Innovation Streams, concluded the 10th SME Program aimed at supporting local entrepreneurs and innovators. The program included workshops on product management and market strategies, culminating in project presentations and certificates.
• MIGHT (Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2023QRDI Council engaged with MIGHT Malaysia at the STS Forum in Kyoto, Japan, exploring collaboration areas and knowledge exchange in technology and innovation policy.
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, UzbekistanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023QRDI Council and Uzbekistan's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation signed an MoU to facilitate formal discussions, strengthen relations, and encourage exchange of ideas, experts, and research innovations between both countries. The partnership supports collaborative RDI activities across all domains.
• Enterprise SingaporeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2023QRDI Council and Enterprise Singapore signed an MoU to accelerate growth in sustainability, medical and food technology, supporting Qatar's transition to a knowledge-based innovation economy. The partnership involves creating innovation and product commercialization opportunities, mutual promotion of programs, and knowledge exchange through coordinated events and workshops.
• Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI), SpainminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023QRDI and CDTI launched Qatar-Spain Innovation Program (QASIP), a joint funding initiative supporting collaborative private sector-driven innovation projects. Each selected project receives up to 1.5 million QAR annually for up to three years, exclusively for activities within Qatar. Priority areas include Energy, Health, Resource Sustainability, and Digital Technology.
• Alchemist AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2023QRDI Council partnered with Alchemist Accelerator (Silicon Valley-based) for the Corporate Innovation Leaders Program. The partnership provides access to Alchemist's global network of corporate innovators, startup founders, and venture capitalists, and enables participating companies to join the Qatar Open Innovation Program as opportunity providers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST): Saudi Arabia's national RDI funding and coordination body, with a far larger absolute budget. Directly comparable to QRDI in mandate (national research funding, ecosystem coordination, Vision 2030 alignment) and represents the largest regional competitor for RDI capital and talent.
• Technology Innovation Institute (TII): UAE's advanced research institute under ATRC, focused on AI, quantum, and directed energy. Comparable to QRDI as a national-level applied research enabler, though TII operates its own labs rather than purely funding external actors.
• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST): Saudi Arabia's flagship graduate research university with a national RDI mandate. Comparable to QRDI's research-funding and talent-development functions, and a key competitor for top-tier Gulf research talent.
• TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye): Türkiye's national RDI funding and coordination agency, with a much larger scale but directly comparable in mandate. QRDI has a joint call (AICC) with TÜBİTAK, and TÜBİTAK is a useful benchmark for an established national RDI grantmaking organization.
• U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF): U.S. federal agency that funds basic research and talent development. Comparable in role as a national science grantmaker with academic, talent, and international-cooperation programs akin to QRDI's portfolio.

Direct peers

• Qatar Foundation / Qatar Science & Technology Park: Qatar's broader RDI and education ecosystem operator, which houses QSTP (where imec's new R&D hub is being established). Tightly intertwined with QRDI on infrastructure, talent development, and hosting the QRDI Council headquarters at Education City's ThinkBay.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore's enterprise and innovation development agency, which has a signed MoU with QRDI. Comparable in mandate (supporting SMEs, open innovation, international RDI cooperation) and offers a benchmark for QRDI's international partnership model.
• CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial): Spain's national innovation agency and QRDI's joint funding partner under QASIP. Directly comparable in function as a national RDI grant administrator that co-funds private-sector R&D projects.

Regional players

• The Research Council (TRC) of Oman: Oman's national research funding body, similar in size and mandate to QRDI. Comparable as a Gulf-region RDI grantmaker focused on national priority areas and talent development.
• Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF): UAE-based foundation focused on knowledge, research, and innovation dissemination in the Arab world. Comparable to QRDI in scope of grantmaking, talent development, and Arabic-language scientific publishing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/qrdicouncil?lang=en
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUcLcYgH1R-ij1YxWlree5w
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/QRDI-Council/100075699677724
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qrdicouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/qrdicouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Qatar Research, Development and Innovation