QSTP to host first edition of Arab Innovation Academy

Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) will host the first edition of the Arab Innovation Academy (AIA), a new initiative aimed at giving 200 future entrepreneurs an opportunity to work under the guidance of leading Silicon Valley mentors and establish a startup in just 10 days.The Arab Innovation Academy, a collaboration between QSTP – part of Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D) – and the European Innovation Academy (EIA), has received applications from 68 students from top universities in Qatar, along with 142 students from regional universities, to participate in the inaugural two-week startup boot camp in Doha from December 31, 2017 to January 11, 2018.Participants will be introduced to an accelerated mode of experiential learning, including how to develop and launch new tech ventures in a real marketplace with genuine customer feedback, according to a press statement.Dr Maher Hakim, executive director of QSTP, said: “We are delighted to join forces with the EIA to launch the largest entrepreneurship programme for young and aspiring technology innovators in the pan-Arab region. Through the AIA, both organisations aim to import the best practices in innovation that meet local market demands and contribute to a sustainable success for the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the wider region.“QSTP serves as a regional hub of tech innovation, and, through the AIA, we aim to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among the region’s youth, who will go on to develop products and services that advance the pan-Arab tech landscape. The boot camp has been designed to enrich participants’ learning experiences and provide a solid foundation for them to successfully launch a startup and, in turn, actively contribute to the diversification of the regional economy through knowledge and innovation.”Alar Kolk, president of the EIA, added: “Based on our previous European ventures, I can say that the passion and skills of students from the Arab world is remarkable. We are excited about the potential to scale our previous efforts within Qatar and the Arab World, and we could not have asked for a better partner than QSTP.”Throughout the two-week programme, participants will be able to leverage an extensive global network comprising top experts in the field of tech entrepreneurship, who will introduce them to cutting-edge research methods developed by leading universities and companies, including University of California - Berkeley, Stanford University, Google and Amadeus IT Group, as well as QSTP. The academy will host international mentors, speakers and investors, including those in Silicon Valley. A one-of-its-kind chat-bot mentor will add uniqueness to the programme together with the learning tools and mobile applications provided by the EIA, a non-profit educational institution recognised for excellence in tech entrepreneurship.More information on the Arab Innovation Academy can be found at http://aia.inacademy.eu