Doha, May 13 (QNA) - Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance scientific collaboration and innovation between Qatar and Switzerland.

The signing ceremony, which took place in Doha, was attended by a distinguished Swiss delegation led by HE State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation of the Swiss Confederation Martina Hirayama. The MoU establishes a framework for future cooperation across various research domains, opening avenues for joint research initiatives between Qatari and Swiss scientists.

Secretary General at QRDI Council Eng. Omar Al Ansari said, "This partnership with the Swiss National Science Foundation represents a strategic milestone in advancing QRDI Council’s mission to drive impactful research, development, and innovation. By enabling collaboration, knowledge exchange, and talent mobility, it supports the growth of innovation capacity and fosters enduring links between our scientific communities—contributing to both national progress and global engagement."

President of the SNSF Research Council Torsten Schwede stated, "This MoU will enable us to kick-start cooperation between the SNSF and QRDI, to the benefit of both our research communities. The first step will be to encourage the mobility of our researchers and could lead to the establishment of a joint research program in areas of strategic importance to both countries. We want the processes to be as simple as possible and look forward to co-creating these partnerships with our QRDI colleagues."

The collaboration will be actively advanced through four key areas of cooperation designed to encourage research engagement and promote meaningful scientific exchange between Qatar and Switzerland.

A coordinated communications campaign will raise awareness across both communities, while a jointly hosted webinar will introduce the Scientific Exchanges instrument to researchers in both countries.

As a pilot initiative, the collaboration will be evaluated based on initial interest and outcomes, guiding future phases of development. To further support engagement, QRDI Council supported by the Leading House MENA, will facilitate networking opportunities to help researchers identify suitable collaborators, with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) amplifying these efforts through its own communication channels.

The visit began with speeches from HE State Secretary for Education, Research Martina Hirayama, and Secretary General of the QRDI Council Omar Al Ansari. The event then concluded with the formal MoU signing ceremony and a networking session.

This new partnership supports Qatar’s vision for innovation and research excellence, which aligns with the Qatar National Vision 2030. By building international partnerships and empowering local talent, Qatar is further strengthening its research and innovation ecosystem. (QNA)