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Case Studies
A detailed look at how different companies are using QSTP...
- ExxonMobil: Technology centre of a large corporation
- Gartner Lee: Operating office of a medium company
- iHorizons: Product development centre of a Qatari company
ExxonMobil: Technology centre of a large company
Overview: | ExxonMobil is establishing ExxonMobil Research Qatar at QSTP, an R&D and training centre focusing on LNG safety and the environment |
Activities: | Research on LNG safety, sulfur, and environmental management |
Relationships: | Targeting collaborative research with Qatar University, Texas A&M University Qatar, Carnegie Mellon Qatar and others |
Staff: | 5-7 at opening, increasing to 10 |
Investment: | $25-30m over first 6 years |
Facilities: | Wet laboratories, training areas and offices in 1600 m2 premises |
Structure: | Branch of ExxonMobil Research Qatar Ltd., an ExxonMobil subsidiary. ExxonMobil's LNG and petrochemical operations in Qatar are conducted through other entities |
Exxon Mobil Corporation is establishing ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) as an anchor tenant of QSTP. EMRQ will house offices, laboratories and a training area to conduct research in areas of common interest to the State of Qatar and ExxonMobil. The research will focus on environmental, safety and sulfur management. Start-up plans for the EMRQ research center include an estimated $25-30 million investment over the first six years. EMRQ will function in collaboration with ExxonMobil's existing research programs.
ExxonMobil has initiated EMRQ's research program at its Upstream Research Center in Houston to ensure a rapid and smooth transition to Qatar when QSTP opens. In 2006 EMRQ launched its first research project to evaluate the potential formation and impact of chlorination byproducts due to the discharge of cooling seawater in the coastal waters near Ras Laffan Industrial City - an important goal of Qatar's Supreme Council for the Environment & Natural Reserves. The study involves offshore marine surveys, laboratory experiments, and modeling of the transport and breakdown of residual chlorine. ExxonMobil will lead a team of experts including URS Qatar, the primary contractor for the work. The study will cost $2 million and will be fully funded by ExxonMobil.
Gartner Lee: Operating office of a medium company
Overview: | Gartner Lee is a Canadian environment strategies & solutions firm. It established branch at QSTP in 2005 developing and delivering its technology and services to Qatar and the GCC region |
Activities: | Research and localisation of environmental and waste-management technologies, consulting and training services |
Relationships: | Joint projects with Qatar University and Qatargas |
Staff: | 2, increasing to 10 after two years |
Investment: | Approx $200,000 per year |
Facilities: | 45 m2 of office accommodation |
Structure: | Gartner Lee's QSTP entity is a 100 percent owned branch of its Canadian parent |
The mid-sized environmental firm liked the sound of QSTP's free zone and central location in the Gulf. By adding a research dimension to its office and leveraging QSTP's connections, it has teamed with a local university to design a national park in Qatar.
First steps in Qatar
After winning several consulting projects in the Middle East in 2004 Gartner Lee, a Canadian environmental strategies and solutions company, saw long-term growth in the market and decided to set-up a regional office.
"We were initially attracted to Qatar because of its convenient geographic location, economic growth and family friendly atmosphere, which was important to our staff relocating to the Middle East with their families," explains Gartner Lee's Middle East general manager, Peter Klaassen.
Making the R&D decision
The company started looking for ordinary office space. But the Qatar law firm advising them pointed out that by setting up at QSTP, they could boost their R&D capability and obtain free-trade zone benefits.
Gartner Lee revised its strategy, increasing the research role of its Middle East office and opting to fully own the business.
"QSTP's advice and assistance ranged from helping us to secure business registration and staff residency visas to providing market intelligence and pointing us in the right direction when we needed information or services," Klaassen says.
It was accepted as a QSTP tenant in June 2005, and received its Certificate of Registration and License to operate at the Park later that year.
Connections help business development
From its temporary QSTP office Gartner Lee offers environmental consulting services to the Middle East and South Asia. Those services include waste management, planning and ecological assessments.
It has also been developing academic collaborations that have added value to its business. As a result of introductions by QSTP, Gartner Lee joined with Qatar University to win a government contract planning Qatar's first ecologically designed national park.
"When you're new in town, knowing who to see and getting the chance to see them can be a challenge. QSTP has a visibility and prestige in the Qatar community that helped us gain traction in the early days," says Klaassen.
iHorizons: Product development centre of a Qatari company
Overview: | iHorizons, a Qatari IT company, established an R&D subsidiary at QSTP in 2006 to engineer applications for new markets segments |
Activities: | Research, development and commercialisation of software in bioinformatics, Arabic-language technologies, Arabic virtual realities and wireless technologies |
Relationships: | AREA Science Park and Cluster in Biomedicine (Italy) Qatar Foundation's working group on Arabic language technologies; and internship programme with Carnegie Mellon Qatar |
Staff: | 8-10 staff and 6 trainees |
Investment: | Approx $600,000 per year |
Facilities: | 45 m2 of office accommodation |
Structure: | iHorizons' QSTP office is a newly incorporated, independent company |
iHorizons is a software development company, with most of its products being created for specific customer's requirements. "Everything we do starts with R&D," says CEO Mohamad Takriti. Tapping QSTP's support programs and university links, it is moving up the technology value chain by establishing a dedicated R&D centre.
Innovation Ecosystem
As an existing Qatari-owned company, iHorizon's sponsorship and business registration was already in place. Its business model has always included developing new software applications in key growth areas, and so it was immediately attracted by the chance to work within Qatar's new research hub and access its support programs.
"We instantly recognized QSTP's culture of R&D. The funding opportunities and coming mentorship program means QSTP is like an ecosystem for innovation," explains Takriti.
With this in mind, iHorizons launched its research and development company at QSTP in late 2006.
iHorizons is hoping to use QSTP's funding initiatives, such as the its Proof of Concept Fund, to develop new web applications including online social communities. The company is looking to create virtual worlds, similar to Second Life, but incorporating the Arabic language and way of life.
Value of the Network
Although iHorizons is a local company, Takriti says the QSTP network is still valuable. "Both directly and indirectly, QSTP has facilitated numerous business introductions for us. Some of these meetings have been strictly networking opportunities, while others have developed into partnerships."
iHorizons' CEO says one such partnership is their joint project with Italian research bodies, AREA Science Park and Cluster in Biomedicine. The three entities will collaborate to develop innovative marketable solutions and services in the area of bioinformatics - an emerging growth sector in Qatar.
Through QSTP introductions, iHorizons has also been invited to join a Qatar Foundation funded working group which will create technologies for Arabic language processing and search.
"We hope that by being a QSTP member we are able to more effectively showcase iHorizons' R&D capacity and encourage companies to look local - not just international - when it comes to software development," adds Takriti.
Academic Connections
University-academic hook-ups are also in the pipeline. iHorizons has accessed QSTP's links with Carnegie Mellon Qatar to devise an internship program for their business and computer science students.
"Qatar's universities are central to Qatar's knowledge-based economy. As an innovative Qatari company we are working towards the same goal with QSTP's assistance. The Park provides an opportunity to local companies to be creators not just traders," Takriti says.