Engineering The Future: Qatar Foundation
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar’s Dr. Khaled Harras discusses Qatar Foundation’s work to turn the nation–and the wider region–from being just a consumer of technology to, instead, a producer of it.
Innovation is often measured by its most visible outcomes: new tools, new platforms, new breakthroughs. But according to Dr. Khaled Harras, the real story lies behind the scenes: in the vision, talent, and infrastructure that make such progress possible.
Dr. Harras’ perspective is one that comes from experience. As the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Teaching Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), Dr. Harras works inside the Education City ecosystem launched in 1997 by Qatar Foundation, the foremost driver of education, research, and innovation in the country. Through its network of international universities, research centers, and innovation hubs, Qatar Foundation has built a long-term model aimed at turning the nation–and the wider region–from being just a consumer of technology to, instead, a producer of it.
Dr. Harras discussed this approach to innovation in a conversation with Inc. Arabia at Qatar Foundation’s headquarters in Doha. “It’s something that takes decades, and you need the persistence and the patience,” Dr. Harras noted. “I think we’re roughly in the third decade of that experiment. And so far, it seems to be showing some positive signs.”
Check out the full video for more insights from Dr. Harras on innovation, artificial intelligence, and more.
