The second edition of “Knowledge Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship - KITE” startups incubation programme was launched by QU

The second edition of Qatar University's (QU) "Knowledge Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship (KITE)" startups incubation programme was recently launched, with the goal of developing knowledge-based, innovative, and technological startups that emerge from R&D and intellectual property outputs. In sophisticated innovation-based knowledge economies, such companies are seen as critical for driving economic progress.

More than 30 teams (with over 100 individuals) were admitted into the programme, with a nearly equal mix of novices (undergraduate students) and specialists (postgraduate students, researchers, employees, and faculty members). The bulk of participating teams were from QU, with just around 10% coming from other colleges in the country. Engineering, technology, and computer science were also heavily represented, accounting for over 40% of the total participants.

The advanced second-stage participants were carefully chosen from hundreds of successful participants who completed a series of pre-incubation activities organised by the university internally and internationally throughout the academic year 2022-2023. Two cycles for QU undergraduate students (Fall 2022 and Spring 2023) and the Al Fikra National Entrepreneurship Competition were held during the pre-incubation phase. In addition, in the spring 2023 session, QU offered a pre-incubation programme for postgraduate students, researchers, employees, and faculty members.

In addition to monthly mentoring meetings, the plan includes various specific workshops and related activities. The winning teams will go to the third stage with the QU Holding Company and the SIEED Office at QU at the end of the programme.