QSTP unveiled as Qatar's newest beacon of knowledge with official inauguration

His Highness The Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, officially inaugurated QSTP in front of 1,200 leaders of science, business and government from Qatar and around the world.

The ceremony took place beneath the iconic roofline of QSTP's award-winning architecture and featured specially-commissioned videos highlighting the vibrant research of QSTP's 21 partner companies and Qatar's clear strategy for its post-carbon future.

In his speech, His Highness the Amir said:

"As we have planned for our national vision by the year 2030, we are confident that QSTP as a component of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will be a tributary for human development, an incubator of creativity and innovation, a safe haven for free scientific research, a magnet for national and international expertise, and a space where cultures and ethnicities integrate."

In his welcome address, Dr. Fathy Saoud, President of Qatar Foundation, described QSTP as a vital component of Qatar Foundation's master plan. "Since the inception of Qatar Foundation, we have seen the building blocks of a knowledge-based society emerge at our pioneering project: Education City. We have now begun to fulfill the second element of our mission - science - by creating in Qatar an entire, full-fledged research environment," he said.

Dr. Tidu Maini, Executive Chairman of QSTP, said that QSTP was delivering a "unique approach to accelerating research, in a nation where education and healthcare are the centerpiece of a clear national strategy."

Maini said, "QSTP is an engine that drives forward applied research and technology development in Qatar. We are creating an environment and the means to build human capital and spawn new technology-based industries; the building blocks of the government's long-term vision to create a post-carbon economy."

Dr Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Thani, Vice President-Education for Qatar Foundation, said, "In our current reforms in Qatar we are striving to nurture the curiosity that inspires scientific investigation from the earliest stages. Research is being built into our entire university system and Qatar Foundation is helping create a research orientation in our students through the Qatar National Research Fund."

He continued, "QSTP is our window to the world of business, and it is the window of business to the rich academic life of Education City."

A "virtual boardroom" was screened featuring interviews with leaders of QSTP's partner companies and government authorities. Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin, Rex W. Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation, and Jeff Immelt, Chief Executive of GE, were among the boardroom participants.

Together QSTP's 21 partner companies have committed $225m of R&D investment at QSTP, while Qatar Foundation itself has invested $600m building the science park.

To mark the inaugural moment, a golden crucible was presented to HH the Emir and HH Sheikha Mozah, who then placed it on a plinth. The illumination of the crucible symbolized the renaissance of science in Qatar.

Following the ceremony, His Highness The Amir and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah toured the partner exhibition stands and talked with partner representatives about the projects being undertaken at QSTP.

Since its inception, Qatar Foundation has embarked on promoting world-class education and scientific research transforming Qatar into an internationally recognized hub for knowledge production. The inauguration of QSTP is a major step in this direction.