DOHA, QATAR – His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of AlFaisal Without Borders Foundation, and Ilker Baybars, dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, inaugurated the AlFaisal – Carnegie Mellon Innovation Entrepreneurship Center aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial environment and inspiring innovation among Qatar’s university students.
The collaboration between Carnegie Mellon Qatar and AlFaisal Without Borders Foundation is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote future collaborations in education, research and community development.
“While the importance of entrepreneurial activity to economic growth has been emphasized by economists all over the world, the innovation factor was explored in more recent times, particularly by daring and creative minds who were presented with huge opportunities via the world wide web, the internet, smartphones and tablets,” said His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani. “However, such innovative ideas are certainly not limited to just this platform but can very well be applied on a wide range of industries.”
A not-for-profit organization, the AlFaisal Without Borders Foundation invests in the development of Qatari society, specifically in human and social aspects. The partnership with Carnegie Mellon Qatar builds upon the vision that society will thrive through the development of human capital.
“Through the AlFaisal-Carnegie Mellon Innovation Entrepreneurship Center, we will provide students with the opportunities, support, mentorship and resources that they need to realize their ambitions,” said Baybars.
He added, “Through our longstanding partnership with AlFaisal Without Borders Foundation, we hope to instill the entrepreneurial spirit in future innovators and business owners. Carnegie Mellon Qatar is uniquely positioned to bring this initiative to life for all university students in Qatar.”
The concept for the center was created by Maher Hakim, associate teaching professor of entrepreneurship. Hakim came to CMU-Q after nearly two decades in Silicon Valley, where new college graduates learn by working in industry. In the Middle East, with its nascent entrepreneurial sector, new graduates have a harder time finding mentorship and guidance. The AlFaisal – Carnegie Mellon Innovation Entrepreneurship Center will help fill that gap with education and programming, while also supporting an incubation phase for graduates that will function as crucial early-stage support for startups.
Carnegie Mellon Qatar and AlFaisal Holding signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2013, an agreement that focused on cooperation between scientific and strategic research. The two organizations will share professional expertise, scientists and researchers in business administration, information systems and public policy.
