Promoting Life Sciences In Qatar

written by Lee Keane and Najwan Nayef

Qatar's strategy for developing its healthcare sector in Qatar includes a commitment to improve the quality and standard of 'life' by promoting education and reform in Life Sciences.

In promoting research in Life Sciences, there are a number of existing key players including the following:

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a private, chartered, nonprofit organization that has, amongst other things, identified research of the Life Sciences as a catalyst for expanding and diversifying Qatar's economy, enhancing the education of its citizens and increasing the quality of healthcare, wellbeing, and security of its citizens. In 2006, QF established the Qatar National Research Fund, as part of it's ongoing commitment to establish Qatar as a knowledge-based economy, fostering research in, amongst other things, Life Sciences. Sidra Medical and Research Center is a teaching and research centre that has commenced partial operation this year, and has recently appointed Qatar's Minister of Public Health, Dr. Hanan Al-Kuwari, to the board of governors for Sidra as a sign of confidence in Sidra and its strategy. World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) is a global initiative of QF with a mandate to inspire healthcare innovation and promote best practices. In 2015, Hamad bin Khalifa University launched three new postgraduate programs within its College of Science and Engineering to promote education in Life Sciences, namely a masters and PhD program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Sustainable Energy, and Sustainable Environment.

Qatar is developing an environment that allows private investment in Life Sciences, as follows:

The Foreign Investment Law allows for foreigners to apply for an exemption to the requirement that foreigners own no more than forty nine percent of a limited liability company if the foreigner can demonstrate that the activities it will carry out in Qatar are unique and for the public benefit of Qatar. This exemption is only applicable to certain sectors including the healthcare sector. Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) is a special free zone status which is also a centre of research and commercial excellence for scientific development and regionally produced intellectual property for both Qatari and international partners. The QSTP promotes the research and commercialisation of technology projects and training. QSTP licensed entities are not...