Press conference with Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council, Qatar Investment Authority and European School of Management and Technology for the Launch of DeepTech Programs to Support Qatar’s Innovation Ecosystem

Qatar and Germany Unite to Propel DeepTech Innovation at Web Summit Lisbon 2025

A representative from ESMT Berlin expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council, launched at Web Summit Lisbon 2025. This collaboration, developed over the past year, signifies a strong, trustful relationship between the institutions and broader Qatari and German support.

The speaker acknowledged significant backing from Qatari officials, including His Excellency Abdullah Al Hama, the Qatari Ambassador to Germany, and German dignitaries such as His Excellency Oliver Osch, the German Ambassador to Qatar. High-level visits by Minister President Henrik Wüst and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz further underscore the strategic importance of this Qatari-German institutional collaboration.

The partnership extends to prominent research institutions like RWTH Aachen and Forschungszentrum Jülich, alongside ESCP Paris. Additional support from companies such as Bayer and the Jürgen Hertz Foundation in Berlin highlights a broad network committed to fostering innovation.

The initiative introduces three key components: the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Qatar, Deep Academy, and Deep Pioneers. CDL Qatar is notably the first such lab in the GCC region and Asia, uniquely positioned to drive science-driven entrepreneurship by commercializing innovative ideas and inventions.

Ms. Haya Al Ghanim, Director of Qatar Funds at Qatar Investment Authority, affirmed that the Deep Qatar partnership reinforces the nation’s role as a long-term hub for science-driven innovation and strengthens Qatar-Germany ties. This initiative extends QIA’s 2024 mission to bolster Qatar’s VC ecosystem by integrating globally connected institutions.

Through CDL Qatar, Deep Academy, and Deep Pioneers, local founders will gain access to international mentoring and investor networks. This strategic link between Qatar and Germany is designed to enable innovators to achieve global reach from inception, fostering collaborations beyond traditional business models.

Ms. Nejoud Al-Jehani, Executive Director of Strategy & Programs at QRDI Council, highlighted that this announcement aligns with Qatar’s 3rd National Development Strategy. It underscores the nation’s commitment to building a world-class, diversified, and innovation-driven economy by strengthening capabilities in entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and commercialization.

Ms. Al-Jehani emphasized that the programs are meticulously co-designed and curated to address Qatar’s specific needs and ambitions. These tailored interventions, grounded in local context and informed by global best practices, aim to build durable capabilities across institutions, founders, and the wider ecosystem.

CDL Doha, the first regional Creative Destruction Lab, will initially concentrate on Artificial Intelligence (AI), healthcare, and food security. It will connect Qatari founders of technically complex, innovation-led companies with a global network of mentors and investors, while embedding them within the local ecosystem.

These combined initiatives tackle the global challenge of scaling technically strong ideas into successful market ventures. By enhancing entrepreneurial skills, technology transfer, and commercialization pathways, Qatar is establishing a robust foundation for sustainable, innovation-led growth, creating enduring value for future generations.