Hamdan Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council have announced a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering national capabilities in advanced electronics, semiconductor technologies, and intelligent systems.
Under the collaboration, QRDI will fund the University’s newly launched master’s program in Integrated Circuits and Intelligent Systems Design. Under the agreement, QRDI will provide funding of up to $1 million.
Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Ahmad Hasnah, President of HBKU, said that, “This funding agreement with QRDI reflects a shared commitment to advancing Qatar’s capabilities in semiconductor and intelligent systems technologies.”
“Through this partnership, we are preparing a new generation of highly skilled talent equipped with the expertise and innovation mindset required to lead in critical fields that will shape Qatar’s knowledge-based economy and global competitiveness and be responsive to evolving technological needs and trends,” Dr. Hasnah added.
Omar Ali Al Ansari Secretary-General QRDI Council
“This partnership reflects QRDI Council’s focus on building deep technical capability in areas where advanced skills are critical to long-term competitiveness. We are supporting engineers with practical experience in semiconductor design, intelligent hardware, and system-level integration by funding HBKU’s master’s program in Integrated Circuits and Intelligent Systems Design. These skills are necessary to promote the development of advanced industries and convert research into deployable solutions. Talent development is directly linked to actual technological and industrial priorities when academia and the larger RDI ecosystem work well together.”
Together, HBKU and QRDI are establishing a sustainable talent pool that translates advanced education into technological leadership. This cooperation strengthens the university’s position as a catalyst for national capacity building, facilitating Qatar’s shift toward developing homegrown expertise in key technologies that will define the future.
By combining HBKU’s academic and research expertise with QRDI’s advancement of Qatar’s RDI ecosystem, the program will cultivate a highly skilled workforce aligned with national priorities in emerging technologies, as per the statement.
