Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar’s primary hub for technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship, has appointed Dr Maher Hakim as its managing director.  

Dr Hakim is a sought-after expert and educator in technology innovation and entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial financing, venture capital, and mergers and acquisitions in the technology industry, said a statement from QSTP.

In his new role, Hakim will be responsible for overseeing all operations of QSTP, which is part of Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QFR&D), while driving its further success, it said.

Speaking on his appointment, Dr Hakim said: “I am honoured to be appointed to my position, and I am looking forward to joining QFR&D and QSTP’s fantastic team and helping to advance the local and regional technology landscape.”

“It is an exciting time for the industry and for QSTP, as we are witnessing tremendous growth and advancements locally and regionally,” he said.

“I believe that through our refreshed vision of turning QSTP into a hi-tech business park, we will not only position ourselves to better support the cultivation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Qatar, but also enhance the potential for the country to make significant contributions to the regional and global technology industry through actively sponsoring the development of viable, home-grown tech products and services,” he added.

Prior to his new appointment, Dr Hakim was associate professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university, and head of the Al Faisal-Carnegie Mellon Innovation Entrepreneurship Center.
 
As a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur, he has been the driving force behind five technology start-up companies. In addition to his extensive industry experience, his educational achievements include a Ph.D. in Computer-Aided Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University; an MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and a BS in Civil Engineering from Damascus University. He is also a prolific blog writer on the subjects of innovation and entrepreneurship, it stated.

Dr Hamad Al Ibrahim, executive vice president, QFR&D, and chairman of the board of directors of QSTP, said: “I am sure that Dr Hakim’s passion for entrepreneurship, wealth of experience, and knowledge of technology start-up companies – both as an entrepreneur and an investor – will serve him well in his new role and be of great benefit to QSTP.”
 
“I would like to thank Hamad Al Kuwari for his achievements in identifying synergies between resident companies, enhancing relationships with governmental agencies for free zone legislations, and successfully launching the accelerator program and technology-based incubation activities, among other significant contributions to our research community during his tenure at QSTP,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service