The Qatar University Wireless Centre (QUWC), to be run by the varsity’s College of Engineering with QSTP providing funding support and location for collaborative research, is expected to open in the first half of 2009.
New wireless applications for targeted local industries, applications and multimedia services for mobile devices, broadband wireless technologies such as 3G evolution, 4G, WiMax and satellite, and radio-frequency radiation studies are the focus areas of QUWC’s research.
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| Prof al-Misnad and Maini after signing the agreement as Abu Dayya looks on |
QU president Prof Sheikha Abdulla al-Misnad and QSTP executive chairman Tidu Maini signed an agreement, setting up QUWC, at a ceremony at QSTP attended by a number of senior officials including General Secretariat for Development Planning secretary general Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim.
The launch of QUWC, coupled with that of MEEZA (Qatar Foundation’s managed IT Services and Solutions provider), which also took place yesterday, is described as a demonstration of QSTP and QF’s ability to develop Qatar’s ICT infrastructure both technically and physically; fusing the gap between the two in a way that’s not yet fully been recognised in the country.
Prof al-Misnad stated that the QUWC initiative demonstrates the focus of QU on applied research and technology development activities that would result in new innovations and services.
“This project, the result of more than two years’ work, also creates a platform that would leverage human assets and expertise available in Qatar and make the country a leader in the field,” she added.
Maini observed that QUWC is a completely indigenous project and a team effort between QU and QSTP. While QSTP’s core strategy is to create research partnerships between local and international organisations, it also aims to spur purely home-grown innovation, he maintained.
QUWC executive director Adnan Abu Dayya, also QU’s Electrical Engineering Department chairman, said that the initiative is at the heart of Qatar’s efforts to create a Knowledge-Based Economy.
He said that wireless industry services in the Gulf are the fastest growing in the world. The QUWC would contribute to making Qatar a regional hub for wireless and telecom research and development.
“The key strategic objectives of QUWC include creating local human capital, innovation in leadership, and customer service and partners’ support,” Abu Dayya said.
Based on establishing a strong industry-government-university partnership, QUWC would act as a virtual research and development arm for its customers and stakeholders.
The QUWC would look into all aspects related to the delivery of information wirelessly and for creating innovative services and applications.
This requires looking into technical, business, and social issues, making the research activities multi-disciplinary in nature and scope.
“Research into wireless applications is to have a broader customer base since such applications do exist, and many more are rapidly emerging, in a number of key industries in Qatar including oil and gas, healthcare, transportation, environment, security, utilities, media, and sports among others,” Abu Dayya said.
As needed, the QUWC would also tap into resources available outside Qatar through institutional partnership agreements with world leading companies, institutions and research centres.
Later Abu Dayya told Gulf Times that QUWC is already in discussions with local telecom providers Qtel and Vodafone and would also seek partners from outside Qatar in its bid to make the facility a world-class one.
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