A blueprint produced by Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), has been accepted as the country’s national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy.

Earlier this year, QCRI produced a blueprint with the aim of informing and advising Qatar’s leadership on the potential opportunities and challenges relating to AI, and to propose a path forward.

His Excellency Jassim Bin Saif Al-Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications (MoTC), announced the adoption of QCRI’s blueprint as the national AI strategy during the Qatar Information Technology and Communication Conference and Exhibition 2019 (QITCOM), Qatar’s largest ICT event.

His Excellency said: “In continuation of the efforts exerted by the Qatari government to accelerate the pace of achieving all the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 and accomplishing the objectives of sustainable comprehensive development, we have developed a Qatar National AI Strategy, in collaboration with Qatar Computing Research Institute and some renowned experts from international universities.

“This strategy is the first of its kind to be developed in collaboration between the government and a research institute. It aims to adopt the artificial intelligence and harness it to secure the economic and strategic future of Qatar as is envisaged by Qatar National Strategy 2030.”

Since its inception in 2010, QCRI has been a thought leader in the use of AI in areas of computing research and went on to raise Qatar’s profile as a global technology innovation hub.

HBKU is committed to actively contributing to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, and is proud to be supporting the government’s efforts to make Qatar a leading figure in AI.

Dr. Ahmed K. Elmagarmid, Executive Director of QCRI, has welcomed Qatar’s adoption of the AI strategy. He believes the new national strategy can help position Qatar among the global AI leaders: “Qatar can lead by example and show the rest of the world how to seamlessly embrace an AI+X Future, where almost every activity of importance will be touched by AI.”

The six pillars which underpin the new national AI strategy are: Talent; Data Access; Employment; Wealth Creation; Embracing an AI + X Future; and Thought Leadership in AI Ethics.

The announcement that its blueprint has been accepted as Qatar’s national AI strategy can only enhance QCRI’s already impressive ability to attract top-tier talent in this field. 

As a forward-looking nation, and within the framework of the National Vision 2030, Qatar’s transformation to a sustainable knowledge-based economy with a robust ICT sector is advancing.