Innovations should take care of real needs: Sheikha Hind

Innovations should lead to purposeful solutions and ‘really take stock of what is needed in the world,’ urged HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF) Monday.

Sheikha Hind was addressing Web Summit Qatar 2025 at a centre stage session titled ‘Running in Circles: How the Old Has Become New.’

“Innovating for the sake of innovation may not find the solution that we are seeking. And so it is important for us to really take stock of what is needed in the world and make sure that we are able to collect the knowledge of our ancestors, because there are great innovations that have happened before,” Sheikha Hind told the audience.

Emphasising the meaning of the word ‘innovation’ Sheikha Hind highlighted that innovations should lead to renewing the knowledge of yore years.

“Do we have any knowledge today that is truly new or are we continuously renewing what has been here before? Understanding that, and respecting the knowledge of our forefathers, is essential to realising what’s important for us today, and to continue renewing knowledge and make it purposeful for today,” explained QF CEO.

“Sometimes people think that the big ideas are the more important ones. Maybe the smaller solutions are actually a lot more impactful. So taking the time and having purpose is essential,” continued, Sheikha Hind.

The QF Vice Chairperson illustrated her views by speaking about QF founded 30 years ago and how her mother, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of QF, sought to “learn from best practices around the world and localise them to our community, so we had the best quality of education while ensuring our culture and heritage was preserved”.

“Marrying the two was a formula she pushed for, and we can see that across the whole of Qatar Foundation, where we are picking and choosing what is best for us and, in that, creating something new,” She said. “But it is essentially part of something that existed before.

Sheikha Hind also spoke about understanding how to use the right technology at the right time, saying: “In Qatar Foundation schools, we saw the effect of using digital technology among children at a very young age, and it was not constructive to their learning. It doesn’t mean we ban technology across the board; it’s about knowing when it is useful. With everything, you need to find the balance.”

Reflecting on whether Artificial Intelligence is a friend or a threat, Sheikha Hind highlighted its benefits in areas such as services and security, while acknowledging the privacy concerns it brings. “There has to be some form of regulation that ensures we’re not just completely relying on AI for everything, but also enables understanding of what’s true and what’s not,” she said, adding: “We need to not just regulate, but also self-regulate.”

And discussing Qatar’s attractiveness to foreign companies, she said: “We are sometimes criticised for our size, but that is the biggest advantage we can have.

“I have seen how Qatar has been transformed in just 30 years – if that can happen, imagine the opportunities to really pilot ideas in this country. The transformation is quick, and we have the talent pool here.”

“We are a country that has a seat at the table where our voice matters. We have always been very clear about who we are as a country and what we believe in, and that is absolutely freeing, but also gives us a drive. Not many people in different countries have been able to witness the development of those countries, so we are truly privileged,” added the QF, CEO.