Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mitacs, a non-profit organisation based at the University of British Columbia, to further strengthen ties between Qatar and Canada.
Under this memorandum, the two institutions formalised their commitment to fostering collaboration aimed at enhancing the mobility of students and researchers between the two countries. Further discussions for a formal agreement for students, researchers, and industrial partners from Qatar and Canada to participate in Mitacs’ Globalink programme are planned. Both parties also agreed to promote and encourage co-operation in the field of quantum technologies through HBKU’s Qatar Center for Quantum Computing (QC2), a College of Science and Engineering (CSE) centre. Founded in 1999, Mitacs has become a catalysing force in the Canadian innovation ecosystem. Supporting a range of disciplines from STEM to social innovation, the organisation has built a world-class, diverse community of innovators to create ambitious solutions to real-world challenges.
Mitacs has over time broadened its undertaking to include college and undergraduate students, as well as graduates and postdocs. It has also gradually expanded its network of businesses and non-profit organisations.
Speaking after the signing, Dr Mounir Hamdi, Dean, CSE, said: “This MoU reflects Qatar’s and Canada’s shared commitment to strengthening global innovation networks. HBKU and Mitacs also recognise the importance of international co-operation, as well as the vital contributions academia and industry make towards achieving this goal.”
