The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) and Iberdrola Group, a Spanish multinational electric utility company, have entered into a new partnership to establish a world-leading innovation center to advance digital utility in Qatar.
The partnership will expand the group’s Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) activities through its the Doha-based Iberdrola Innovation Middle East. The new collaboration aims to advance the digital utility industry by unlocking the growth potential of the RDI ecosystem in Qatar.
The partnership also allows the tech hub to further accelerate the development of its innovative products and solutions for government and businesses, particularly in Qatar’s expanding utilities sector. The hub, currently located in Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), tackles the technology challenges related to innovation and digitalization of the electrical grid by developing solutions in smart grids, renewable energy integration and energy efficiency.
Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani CEO – IPA Qatar
“We are delighted to be working with Iberdrola towards realizing our shared vision for Qatar’s digital transformation and the establishment of an innovative, knowledge-based economy. Furthermore, we expect the outcome of our collaboration to help power local and international enterprises’ growth ambitions in Qatar and the region, while building on the tech hub’s previous achievements and elevating Qatar’s RDI ecosystem to the next level.”
The IPA Qatar-Iberdrola partnership sets the framework for developing local talent through Iberdrola’s skills development and training programs, in addition to improving the RDI landscape and strengthening Qatar’s fast-paced digital transformation.
Similarly, it entails Iberdrola’s transfer of knowledge as well as sharing of Intellectual Property (IP) rights with relevant educational and industrial institutions.
In the presence of Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of IPA Qatar H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani and Mr. José Ignacio S. Galán, Chairman and CEO, Iberdrola Group, the MoU was signed by Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al Thani, CEO, IPA Qatar and Mr. Santiago Bañales López, Managing Director, Iberdrola Innovation Middle East.
Mr. Galán said that “For more than 100 years, innovation has been the main tool to guarantee the sustainability, efficiency and competitivity of Iberdrola. The agreement signed today will further help to channel Iberdrola’s experience on innovation in the region and further reinforce the company’s commitment with Qatar.”
