British Embassy Ties Up With Mofa, MCIT For AI Projects

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) M Mazharul Haque | The Peninsula

Doha, Qatar: The British Embassy in Qatar, in collaboration with Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee of the Ministry of Communications and Information technology (MCIT) and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI), is inviting proposals for artificial intelligence (AI) projects under the Gulf Strategy Fund in the range of £50,000 to £80,000, the Embassy posted recently on its X account.

According to the post, the deadline for submission is August 12, 2024 and the project should be delivered between September 2024 and March 2025.

This initiative aims to foster innovative AI collaborations between the UK and Qatar, leveraging combined strengths to build dynamic, ethical AI ecosystems.

The proposals should focus on scaling AI ecosystems, promoting safe AI development, and enhancing bilateral relations.“The focus of this project is on collaboration to address the shared and multifaceted challenge of building and scaling AI ecosystems. There are in principle significant opportunities for bilateral cooperation between the UK and Qatar that would support efforts in both countries to achieve this,” the Embassy said.

The project will be required to analyse areas where the UK and Qatar might collaborate to build and scale their respective AI ecosystems, including launching the next generation of AI-enabled companies and integrating AI into existing enterprises as well as driving UK-Qatar commercial partnerships related to the AI.

“It is required to analyse where UK-Qatar diplomatic cooperation can promote safe, secure and trustworthy commercial development of AI, both in the UK and Qatar and internationally, to support the development of AI ecosystems in the two countries,” it added.

Besides, it should discuss how the UK-Qatar cooperation on AI ecosystems can in turn enhance the effective utilisation of AI in the field of diplomacy in ways that support shared foreign policy challenges, including in the area of diplomatic mediation, assess and provide recommendations for how UK-Qatar AI cooperation can be integrated into existing UK-Qatar diplomatic structures.

And also, how proposals can be practically executed, the Embassy said.

The project will be required to deliver the following activities and outputs: An inception report detailing a plan for delivering the research and activities, which will be approved by British Embassy Doha, within one month of the project commencing. Regular written and oral updates/briefings to British Embassy Doha and its collaborative partners (ie, MoFA, QRDI and the AI Committee).

A series of engagement activities, such as round-table discussions, seminars, field visits, etc., that will enable regular and policy-relevant discussions with a range of stakeholders.

The Embassy said the project's partners wish to support the professional development of Qatari university graduates and those new to the workforce.

Therefore, potential project implementers are encouraged to include steps that will allow high-potential Qatari graduates to participate in the project in ways that support their professional development.

Only applications from non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations, or government entities are eligible.

Applications are open to organisations based anywhere in the world.

However, the priority will be given to those with strong, existing links and track record of successful delivery in Qatar and/or the GCC and the UK, with subject matter expertise in the field of AI/or critical technology.

The potential applicants are asked to discuss project ideas with the British Embassy Doha Programmes Team before submitting an application or to seek further clarification. They have been asked to contact the team at [email protected] .

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