His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has issued Amiri Decision No. 20 of 2026, officially forming the Board of Directors for the Qatar Innovation and Scientific Research Foundation (QISR). The foundation, established as an independent public entity with its own legal personality and financial autonomy, represents a major step in Qatar’s journey toward a knowledge-based economy. Under the supervision of the Council of Ministers, QISR is tasked with centralizing and accelerating the state’s scientific and technological ambitions.
Leadership And Governance Structure
The newly appointed board is chaired by HE Dr. Hessa Sultan Al-Jaber, with Dr. Ahmed Khalifa Elmagarmid serving as Deputy Chairman. The board features a diverse group of leaders from across Qatar’s healthcare, aviation, and academic sectors, including HE Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Abdulla Hamad Al Misnad, Hamad Ali Al-Khater, and Dr. Asma Ali Al-Thani. Additionally, the board includes a representative from the Qatar Investment Authority and two experts appointed by the chair. Members will serve four-year terms, which are renewable, ensuring stable leadership for the foundation’s long-term objectives.
A Mandate For Strategy And Funding
The QISR Foundation is empowered with a broad mandate to develop national strategies, policies, and priorities for innovation. Beyond planning, the entity is responsible for funding programs and initiatives that align scientific research with national needs. By linking research outputs directly to Qatar’s development plans, the foundation aims to enable technologies that enhance productivity, improve public services, and reduce operational costs across the country. It will also play a critical role in monitoring Qatar’s performance in global innovation indices through rigorous data collection and benchmarking.
Sustainable Funding Through Legislative Reform
The foundation’s operations are supported by a robust legislative framework, specifically Law No. 8 of 2025. This law introduces a sustainable funding model by allocating an annually set percentage of the national budget specifically to advance innovation and scientific research. This dedicated financial stream ensures that R&D activities remain a consistent priority, providing the private sector and academic institutions with the predictability needed to invest in long-term projects and emerging technologies.
Strengthening The Ecosystem And Private Sector Ties
A core objective of the QISR Foundation is to foster cross-sector collaboration between academic institutions and the private sector. By encouraging R&D investment and supporting startups, the foundation seeks to build a vibrant ecosystem where local and international partnerships can thrive. These efforts are designed to raise quality standards across industries and ensure that Qatar remains a competitive hub for high-tech innovation in the MENA region, directly supporting the overarching goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
About Qatar Innovation And Scientific Research Foundation
The Qatar Innovation and Scientific Research (QISR) Foundation is an independent governmental body established in 2025 to lead Qatar’s national research and innovation ecosystem. Operating with administrative and financial autonomy, the foundation is responsible for setting national research priorities, managing state funding for scientific projects, and fostering a culture of technical excellence. It serves as the primary link between the government, academia, and industry to ensure research efforts contribute to the country’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
Source: Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council
