Thales strengthens partnership with Qatar University

French aerospace, transportation, defense, security and space group Thales has further strengthened its partnership with Qatar University (QU), to reinforce the transfer of knowledge in cybersecurity, by extending its sponsorship of a 'Professional Chair' and by providing a cutting edge Cyber Range software training platform. 

This builds on the agreement Thales signed with Qatar University to sponsor a 'Professional Chair' in 2014. The renewed partnership on the cyber security demonstrates the trustful cooperation established between Qatar University and Thales over the years, and Thales strong commitment to support Qatars education sector in the long run.With the contribution of the Cyber Range software training platform to Qatar University, developed in collaboration with Diateam, Thales offers another advanced training tool for students. Cyber Range is designed to help organizations improve their capabilities to ensure that they are adequately prepared for cyberattacks. Cyber Range has three critical services: practice, validation and experimentation. As a training platform, it aims at developing skills to defend systems and organizations against cyber-attacks. It also reproduces/simulates information and industrial systems from the simplest to the most complicated, in order to analyze their resistance to attacks. It is also a perfect tool to evaluate the products and solutions in terms of cyber security. Commenting on the agreement, College of Engineering Dean Prof Abdelmagid Hammuda said: "This cooperation with Thales to renew the chair MoU which represents the good relations between academia and industry and the commitment of both to graduate highly professional engineers in different industrial areas. We are proud of this partnership which will add great value to education and research at QU and which will contribute significantly to Qatar's society as a whole."Frederic Sallet, Qatar VP, Country Director of Thales Group, said: "The sponsorship of the Professional Chair for cybersecurity by Thales has achieved tangible results with Qatar University, developing stronger skillsets and access to knowledge based on this important topic that is central to the digital transformation shaping Qatar today in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The renewed partnership also highlights the industry-academic links that are central to driving Qatari human capital development, especially in technology. Thales Groups continuous support will further add to the skills of Qatari youth as they start their careers in both the public and private sector."