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QSTP is a part of Qatar Foundation, chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Wife of His Highness the Emir of Qatar. The Foundation was created in 1995 to enhance Qatar's educational, scientific and social infrastructure by His Highness the Emir. Thus QSTP has the full support of the State of Qatar and is an important part of the Qatar community.
It is QSTP's tenant organisations, rather than QSTP itself, that will undertake research and commercialisation. Our role is to provide the ideal environment for our tenants to undertake these activities.
Is QSTP an educational institute?
It is anticipated that a number of QSTP companies will deliver training courses related to their technologies, however QSTP itself is not a teaching organisation.
Why would a company come to Qatar to do R&D?
Qatar's rapid industrial growth, coupled with its enormous investment in education and science, is attracting many technology-based companies to the country. QSTP creates the opportunity for these companies to bring their technology-development activities as well as their trading activities to the Arabian Gulf. They benefit from access to the highly-educated graduates of the universities adjacent to QSTP, visibility in the Qatar business community and the commercial incentives of our free zone.
What commercial incentives does QSTP provide?
QSTP is a Free Zone, making it easy to establish a 100 percent foreign-owned company or to operate as a branch of a foreign company. The Free Zone enables companies to trade without a local agent, sponsor expatriates, and does away with all taxes and duties. Also we are a non-profit entity - despite our highly specified facilities our charges are competitive with ordinary commercial premises in Qatar.
How does QSTP support start-up companies?
In addition to the Free Zone system, which makes it easy to set up a new business, QSTP is implementing support programs designed to help entrepreneurs to plan, launch and grow start-up technology companies. These programs include a funds that invest in early- and mid-stage ventures, as well as training and mentoring programs. They are listed and described here.
Will QSTP fund my company/start-up venture/research project?
QSTP has established the three funding programs to support start-up technology companies in Qatar, listed here. We are not able to provide funding to companies, ventures, researchers or other projects that are not covered by these programs.
If you are looking for funding for a research project in Qatar, you may wish to explore the Qatar National Research Fund
If you are looking for funding for a manufacturing company in Qatar, you may wish to contact the Qatar Industrial Development Bank or theDepartment of Industrial Development (ph. +974 484 6510, fx. +974 483 2024).
What are the requirements for being a QSTP tenant?
Any company can join QSTP provided their main activity relates to the development of technology. We set this condition because our primary purpose is to spur research and commercialisation in Qatar, rather than to be a business park. More details on membership requirements are provided here.
Can I open a company at QSTP now?
QSTP has been operational since 2004, and several tenants are already housed and operating from temporary premises at Education City. Although the temporary premises are currently full, our next phase of buildings opens in mid 2008.
We not publicise our rental rates, however ensure that they are competitive with typical commercial property in Doha. This is despite our buildings being much more highly specified and serviced than ordinary office accommodation.
Why isn't there an application form?
QSTP is a science park rather than a business park, and the process of becoming a member starts off with a discussion rather than filling in a form. The application process is described here.