Maher Hakim, associate professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), presented the inaugural session of Qatar Foundation Research and Development’s ‘Research Dialogue.’

Hakim’s presentation, “Building an Innovation Ecosystem in Qatar,” discusses how to foster creativity and entrepreneurship.

“Qatar Foundation has many of the key components of a vibrant innovation entrepreneurship hub: world-class scientific research, top global universities, financial resources, a diverse community, and an open free zone. We just need to bring these components together and complement them with the right processes and incentives to excel and reward entrepreneurship and risk taking,” he remarked.

Hakim came to CMU-Q after nearly two decades in Silicon Valley. He noticed that unlike in the US, new college graduates in the Middle East have a difficult time finding mentorship and guidance in a nascent entrepreneurial sector. To bridge the gap, Hakim helped create The AlFaisal – Carnegie Mellon Innovation Entrepreneurship Center that provides new graduates with education, programming, mentorship and crucial early-stage support for start-ups.

The AlFaisal – Carnegie Mellon Innovation Entrepreneurship Center is a collaboration between CMU-Q and the AlFaisal Without Borders Foundation.