Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) is planning to tap more small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs) for its second phase of development, managing director Hamad al-Kuwari told Gulf Times yesterday.
"For the first five years, QSTP was focused on establishing infrastructure and attracting international and local entities to set up their technology development arm in the park," he explained.
Al-Kuwari was speaking on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the 31st Annual World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), held from October 19 to 22 at Qatar National Convention Centre.
It was pointed out during the conference that science and technology parks (STPs) should tap the SME sector to entice the participation of more multinational enterprises.
But with QSTP, al-Kuwari said it was the other way around. Currently, QSTP boasts of a 95% occupancy rate from large companies.
"This approach also promotes and attracts SMEs or entrepreneurs to venture into innovation and come to the science park and undertake R&D-related projects because they feel closer to their potential customers," al-Kuwari noted.
He further explained, "The approach of attracting science park tenants depends on which STP you are talking to. Some STPs get the bigger companies first to attract their SME counterparts while some actually go vice-versa."
When asked what STPs can contribute to the role of SMEs in employment generation and diversification, al-Kuwari said: "Well, if you talk of STPs in general, they can contribute a lot by being the bridge between SMEs and decision-makers of big-ticket projects."
"As for QSTP, we're talking about technology-based SMEs. As long as a company is working towards solving one of the 76 items in the objectives of the Qatar National Research Strategy, we'll be happy to talk to them and help them," he emphasised.
In an earlier interview, al-Kuwari said the strong emphasis of most countries in the GCC region on science and technology has made the Gulf area an attractive venue for S&T-based businesses.
"The whole GCC region is booming when it comes to science and technology and it has placed emphasis on this by dedicating resources into S&T. So, this is an attractive area not just for conventional business but also for S&T-based businesses," he stressed.
Al-Kuwari shared that QSTP already has existing programmes for SMEs such as proof of concept, which it had provided last year to three local companies: iHorizons, Aman Information Security and Qatar Navigator.
Earlier in the conference, Pekka Viljakainen, adviser to the president of Skolkovo at Skolkovo Foundation, underscored the importance of commercialisation of the development of STPs.
Al-Kuwari said commercialisation is one of the main roles of STPs: "If they cannot help in commercialisation, then they (STPs) only become landlords."
Aside from iHorizons, Aman Information Security and Qatar Navigator, al-Kuwari said QSTP has also played a significant role in the commercialisation of certain projects undertaken by one of its tenants, GE's Advanced Technology & Research Centre.
Source: http://www.zawya.com/story/QSTP_to_tap_more_SMEs_in_next_phase_of_development-ZAWYA20141023042836/
