Enabling cutting-edge fundamental and applied research in Qatar

Education City’s Multaqa Building was the venue for the latest Qatar Resilience Symposium. Featuring over 150 participants from government, academia, industry, and civil society, the event sought to advance Qatar’s national resilience agenda in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (QNDS3).

Delivered under the umbrella of two resilience-focused research clusters - Proactive Resilience Plan (PReP): An Integrated Framework Applied to Critical Economic Sectors and Resilient Solutions for Vulnerabilities and Emergencies (ReSolVE) both funded by Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) - the symposium was organized by Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) and Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future. The event aimed to create a shared understanding of resilience in Qatar, foster cross-sector dialogue, and translate research insights into actionable strategies to strengthen national preparedness and long-term sustainability.

Opening remarks were delivered by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Former Minister of Energy and Industry, and Chair of the Board of Trustees, University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST). Dr. Al-Sada was followed by Dr. Hisham Sabir, Executive Director of the Scientific Research Programs Office, QRDI, and Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director, Earthna, both of whom emphasized the importance of proactive risk management and systems thinking in building resilient societies. Dr. Eyad Masad, Vice President for Research, and Dr. Tareq Al-Ansari, Acting Executive Director, QEERI, and Associate Professor, College of Science and Engineering (CSE), both HBKU, then presented an overview of the symposium’s objectives and integrated framework guiding the PReP and ReSolVE clusters.

The first day featured keynote presentations from Dr. Bilal Ayyub, Professor and Director, Center for Technology and Systems Management, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, Dr. Sami Al-Ghamdi, Associate Professor, Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Dr. Dhabia Al-Mohannadi, Assistant Professor, CSE, HBKU, who explored themes of infrastructure interdependencies, systems engineering, and climate-driven urban resilience. These talks were followed by four thematic panel discussions that addressed risk and climate impacts, the resilience of critical infrastructure, governance and policy mechanisms, and the role of emerging technologies. These sessions were moderated by Dr. Tareq Al-Ansari, Dr. Logan Cochrane, and Dr. Marwan Khraished (all HBKU), and Dr. Alysha Helmrich (University of Georgia).

Speakers and panelists from the Qatar Meteorological Department, National Planning Council (NPC), Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Foundation, Earthna, Kahramaa, Ministry of Municipality, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Vodafone, Shell, Barzan Holdings, Qatar Fund for Development, Mowasalat, Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, and Georgetown University in Qatar, also contributed insights on strengthening institutional readiness, protecting lifeline services, and integrating resilience into national planning frameworks.

On the second day, participants joined focused breakout workgroup sessions on risks, impacts, and infrastructure resilience, policy frameworks and innovation, and the role of advanced technologies as resilience enablers. These sessions encouraged co-development of strategic pathways to address Qatar’s most pressing vulnerabilities. Discussions emphasized the importance of integrated governance, investment in advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure, enhanced emergency preparedness, and resilience-oriented policy tools adapted to local socio-economic and environmental conditions. Each group presented its key recommendations during the closing plenary, proposing practical next steps, including the establishment of a national coordination mechanism, improved interoperability across systems, and the development of localized resilience indicators.

Highlighting the importance of the event, Dr. Masad added: "The Qatar Resilience Symposium reflects our collective ambition to address emerging climate and systemic risks through science, engineering, collaboration, and innovation. At HBKU, resilience is not just a research theme; it is a core pillar of our institutional mission. Through research initiatives like the PReP and ReSolVE clusters, we are advancing cutting-edge solutions that empower Qatar to adapt, transform, and lead in building a resilient future. We appreciate the support of QRDI for these two strategic research clusters. We also value the partnerships with various academic institutions such as Qatar University, government entities, and industries."

Speaking about the symposium, Dr. Al-Ansari added, “The Qatar Resilience Symposium is a statement to HBKU’s strategic commitment to delivering impactful research that strengthens Qatar’s climate and infrastructure resilience. This symposium is a vital platform to align stakeholders, mobilize science-based solutions, and accelerate our transition toward a more resilient Qatar."

The symposium reaffirmed the essential role of science-policy integration and cross-sector collaboration in addressing complex and interconnected risks. It laid a strong foundation for future initiatives that align research, innovation, and policy to ensure Qatar’s resilience in the face of evolving challenges.