Qatar Foundation and ictQATAR and UNESCO co-organise international conference on Knowledge Parks

One of the key objectives of the conference is to raise awareness of how knowledge parks - of which Qatar Foundation's Education City and the Qatar Science and Technology Park are leading examples - can translate concept into practice and help drive regional economic and social development.

The conference brings to Qatar key industry figures and representatives of international institutions including the US Library of Congress and Egypt's Bibliotheca Alexandrina to explore the concept of 'knowledge societies' across a range of focus areas.

Showcasing the value of specialized knowledge parks, the first day focuses on how information communication technology (ICT) can foster young entrepreneurs and generate creative IT businesses.

Keynote speakers include Tidu Maini, Executive Chairman of the QSTP, focussing on research and the work of the science park.

The second day explores ways of preserving, disseminating and using knowledge with reference to projects such as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which is represented by ICT Director Noha Adly, who is participating as a panellist and moderator during the day.

The final day concentrates on how ICT can enable economic development in strategic domains, including knowledge acquisition and sharing, engaging young people and overcoming gender barriers.

Keynote speakers include Rinalia Abdul Rahim, executive director of the Global Knowledge Partnership.

Given the importance of young people to the creation of knowledge societies and their active participation in knowledge parks, leading participants including Microsoft, the UN, Digital Opportunity Trust, InfoDev (the World Bank group) and the Global Knowledge Partnership have selected a delegation of 'Young Participants' from across the globe to attend the conference.

Aside from their involvement in a series of break-out sessions, the young people are also scheduled to work with students from Education City on a special sideline event designed by Qatar Foundation.

The event will involve the young people in creating their own concept of an 'ideal Knowledge Park''.