Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Alfardan Group to engage in strategic collaboration that advances Qatar’s technological and economic development while strengthening its innovation and entrepreneurial culture.

Cooperation under the three-year agreement will take the form of collaborative initiatives leveraging their respective expertise and networks across four focus areas. These will aim to meet their institutional missions as well as address national priorities. Joint projects will foster knowledge exchange across government, academia, and business, and the development of regionally and globally competitive digital industries.

The agreement paves the way for the creation of an innovation lab that fosters a national ecosystem for Qatar’s emerging technologies and solutions. The lab will also enhance the innovation capabilities within the Alfardan Group and serve as a space for HBKU graduate students and researchers to apply their ideas and solutions in a real-world context.

HBKU and Alfardan Group will also cooperate on developing a virtual Digital Cluster, with platforms and programs aimed at improving the capabilities and competitiveness of the country’s digital entrepreneurs as well as small medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focused on digital innovation.

A third area of focus leverages HBKU’s pioneering programs in smart sustainable energy to design renewable energy power systems and water production systems that optimize conditions in Alfardan Group greenhouses. These include developing smart sensors using the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), an area where HBKU’s leads in high-impact research and technology solutions.

The agreement provides for HBKU to support the “Alfardan Academy”, with faculty and researchers sharing expertise that support the Group’s projects while exploring a pipeline to advance their own commercially viable projects.

Successfully built around traditional family values, the Alfardan Group has an uncompromising commitment to integrity, premium service, and social responsibility in delivering luxury products and services across a wide range of industries.

Omar Alfardan, President and CEO of Alfardan Group, said: “HBKU strives to prepare the people of Qatar meet the challenges of an ever-changing world, and to make Qatar a leader in innovative education and research. We hope that this partnership will serve to upscale the innovation capabilities within Alfardan Group by providing the resources needed to effectively integrate the best innovation principles into our corporate structure. Together, we can develop and implement shared objectives and real-world solutions that address national priorities.”

The agreement, in turn, supports HBKU’s mission as an innovation-driven entrepreneurial university that catalyzes solutions to address national challenges while having a global impact.

Commenting on the aims, Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, HBKU President, said: “Alfardan Group is known for unparalleled excellence in the Qatari and regional market. Our collaboration brings together our specialized expertise, experience, and networks. We aim to strongly elevate Qatar's digital innovation capabilities. HBKU has a firm belief in the value of industry-academia cooperation. We look forward to amplifying the benefits of this partnership through knowledge and other exchanges. The outcomes will encourage a dynamic ecosystem and support digital entrepreneurship in Qatar.”

For more information on HBKU’s programs and initiatives, please visit hbku.edu.qa.