(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Companies dedicated to research have occupied 95 percent of Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) within its five years of operations, said a senior official.
Forty international and local companies are in QSTP, Hamad Al Kuwari, Managing Director, QSTP, told a press conference on the sidelines of IASP2014.
"In the first phase we focused on infrastructure, only five percent of occupancy is vacant. In the second phase, we will look how we can cater to entrepreneurs, support and help them implement their ideas into businesses," he added.
Al Kuwari said QSTP is not a research entity, although it collaborated for some research in the past. "QSTP initially was involved in some research, but it's only an incubator of research."
Rick Weddle, President, IASP, Luis Sanz, Director-General, IASP, Dr Ismail Array, General Manager, Istanbul Technology Park, and Mohamed Hamad Al Masaki, Director-General, Knowledge OSIS Muscut-Oman's Technology Park, were present.
To a question about challenges in the field of science and technology in the region, Al Masaki said they differ from country to country, however some like availability of talent are common.
"Challenges vary, but availability of talent, maturity in putting research into practice, standard of education in universities to support research, gap between education and needs of the market are common problems," he said, adding funding for research is a problem in some countries in the region.
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