(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) has held a multi-sectoral forum providing leading Qatari and French institutions with the opportunity to identify areas of common interest in energy and environment.
The ‘Qatar France Academia-Industry Initiative 2016', which brought together representatives from industry, academia, and science and research, was jointly organised by QF, the French embassy in Qatar, Total EP Qatar, and Qatar University (QU).
The opening of the forum was attended by HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, vice-chairperson and CEO of QF; Eric Chevallier, French ambassador and Guillaume Chalmin, managing director of Total EP Qatar.
The theme of the forum was energy and environment, and sought to create timely dialogue among partners in Qatar, the region, and beyond, around global concerns facing the energy industry.
Chevallier said, 'The Qatar France Academia-Industry Forum Initiative aims to reinforce academic and industrial French participation to Qatar's knowledge-based economy and capacity building within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, which has engaged the country in sustainable development, relying on groundbreaking research, innovation and cutting-edge technology.
Dr Hamad al-Ibrahim, executive vice-president, Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R & D), said, 'By bringing together representatives from industry, academia, and science and research, this forum has reflected the essential role of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing the most pressing challenges facing societies throughout the world.
The forum saw the participation of academics from top French higher education institutes with a focus on engineering, as well as representatives of French companies with a presence in Qatar including Total, Engie, Suez, Véolia, Alstom, SNCF, QDVC, EDF - and Qatar-based companies Qatalum, Kahramaa, Muntajat, and Qapco.
Dr Hassan al-Derham, president of QU stated, 'The Forum reflects the Qatari-French bilateral ties which play an important role in promoting cultural and economic relations between the two countries. The theme of the forum energy and environment is a timely one for dialogue among partners in Qatar, the region, and beyond.
Chalmin said, 'Our collaboration not only entails us to help create a dynamic global community where educators and industry stakeholders can work openly to identify common projects, and develop the energy sector, it also enables us to support the building of a knowledge-based economy in Qatar through supporting innovation and sustainable initiatives.
In the field of training and education, more than 30 internships in the participating companies will be offered in 2017 to Qatari students. Ecole Polytechnique, the leading French graduate school for science and technology, laid the first foundations for this initiative by proposing tutoring activities by their students.
Research and development opportunities were identified in technology hotspot areas identified through the 10th cycle of the National Priorities Research Programme (NPRP) of Qatar National Research Fund, such as environmental monitoring and the use of new materials for energy storage and water treatment.
French engineering schools and universities will develop joint projects with Qatari counterparts at Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute QF partner university Texas A & M University at Qatar and QU.
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