Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) announced the launch of a strategic partnership under its 'Scale Now Program' during a press conference held yesterday. The Ministry revealed that it is joining forces with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI), Invest Qatar, and QDB to drive the growth of promising Qatari enterprises. The initiative aims to strengthen their global competitiveness and advance the objectives of the Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030.

In his opening remarks, Faraj Jassim Abdullah, Director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT, highlighted that this partnership marks a significant step forward in the Ministry's efforts to expand its support for Qatari startups as the programme provides an integrated framework of financing, mentorship, and training designed to accelerate business growth. He stressed that the initiative connects entrepreneurs with investors and innovation partners, enhancing their capacity to scale locally and regionally while positioning Qatar as a leading hub for emerging technology ventures.

Addressing a query put forward by The Peninsula, on its personalised training and mentorship model, Abdullah said,“This is a programme, I believe, that is one of its kind, where we are providing tailor-made training programmes for the companies. Each company will receive a different training programme compared to the other.”

He stressed that the programme is designed to address the specific growth needs of each participating company. Several industry leaders will provide the attendees with valuable exposure and connections that can accelerate their growth. The MCIT official told The Peninsula that“They will get access to world-class experts and mentors, and we'll give them opportunities to pitch to investors and our partners in the programme to really get the right exposure they need to grow their company.”

Abdullah further stated:“We consider this partnership as a model of integration between government entities and the private sector in building a dynamic digital ecosystem that transforms ideas into scalable and expandable products, in line with the objectives of the Digital Agenda 2030.”

“This will be realised through a clear implementation package that includes phased financing pathways, specialised mentorship programmes, and field trials. We will also strengthen the alignment of solutions with national policies and standards, thereby accelerating companies' transition toward sustainable growth and enhancing the competitiveness of the digital economy,” he added.

The inaugural cohort of the programme delivered impressive outcomes, generating deals valued at over $7.2m, attracting $5.7m in investments, and achieving revenue growth exceeding 50 percent. As a result, one firm successfully entered the global market.

Building on this success, the programme has now launched its second cycle, featuring 14 companies operating across more than 10 strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, HealthTech, EdTech, cybersecurity, and other high-potential areas. This expansion underscores Qatar's strategic commitment to solidifying its position as a regional center for digital innovation, supporting the creation of over 26,000 ICT sector jobs by 2030, and propelling the nation's transformation toward an innovation-driven digital economy.

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