The Office of Strategic Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (SIEED) at Qatar University (QU), in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), hosted the final ceremony for the Al Fikra competition on 13 February.
Al Fikra 2022 is a national entrepreneurship competition designed for higher education-led start-up teams to develop their entrepreneurial skills and participate in successful private value-adding businesses. This is accomplished through the provision of specialized training that equips the participants with the practical knowledge and support to advance their idea.
The ceremony commenced with an opening speech by the event host, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mahmoud, followed by remarks from Dr. Hassan Al-Derham, President of Qatar Univesity, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Sowaidi, CEO of Qatar Development Bank, and Dr. Mahmoud Abdulwahed, Director of SIEED Office at QU.
In his speech, Dr. Hassan Al-Derham said: "The state developed the Qatar National Vision 2030 aimed at moving towards a society and economy based on knowledge and innovation. Universities and higher education institutions as hosts of knowledge and innovation are one of the main pillars in providing the country with the outputs for a knowledge-based economy; especially by empowering the educational and research capabilities by transforming the research outputs into innovative economic products through innovation and entrepreneurship programs to develop startups."
He added: "In the past years, Qatar University has made a strategic move to strengthen its role in supporting the achievement of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its four pillars of sustainable development: human development, social development, economic development, and environmental development. In this context, Qatar University has embarked on the implementation of a transformational strategy from 2018 to 2023 consisting of seven sub-strategies closely interlinked with the four pillars of sustainable development of the national vision."
Dr. Mahmoud discussed the opportunity that this collaboration between SIEED Office and QDB has offered. He said, “For the very first time, the Office of Strategic Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development at Qatar University in partnership with Qatar Development Bank, has opened the door for students, faculty, staff, and researchers from Qatar’s higher education institutes to participate in this prestigious entrepreneurship platform and refine their creative ideas and gain the knowledge and support they need to bring their ideas to the forefront of the business world.”
He also stated: “In this edition of Al Fikra, we have received submissions from over 575 applicants from different universities and colleges in Qatar. The top 12 finalists were from Qatar University, University of Doha for Science & Technology, Texas A&M University at Qatar, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.”
After the speeches were concluded, the finalists from the junior track pitched their start-ups, starting with V
ANITY team, followed by Bikam, Tripomoria, Skill-Up, WAKALA, and Growledge teams.
Followed by the senior track finalists, beginning with Preventive Mobile Security using Secured AI team, then FetalCrae, SocAI, Qawnas Academy, Grocer and AIDENTIST teams.
The ceremony concluded with the announcement of winners, distribution of awards, as well as certificates to recognize judges, coaches, and partners’ efforts.
The winners in the junior track were as follows: first place - Skill-Up, second place - Growledge, and third place - WAKALA.
The winners in the senior track were as follows: first place - SocAI, second place - AIDENTIST, and third place - FetalCare.
Source: Qatar University