Qatar And Germany Launch DEEP Qatar To Support Deeptech Startups In Doha

Qatar and Germany have signed an agreement to establish DEEP Qatar, a university-affiliated deep technology innovation hub in Doha. The hub is being developed in a partnership between the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin, through DEEP – Institute for Deep Tech Innovation, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council (QRDI), and aims to strengthen collaboration across innovation, research, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer. 

Building on ESMT’s existing presence in Qatar, which includes executive education programs delivered in collaboration with the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies since 2018, the initiative aims to leverage Qatar’s scientific and technical capabilities while deepening international collaboration. The initiative will be guided by QRDI, which will ensure that it is designed in alignment with Qatar’s national innovation priorities, fosters private-sector-led research, drives technology transfer, and strengthens the overall innovation ecosystem.

QRDI Secretary-General Omar Al Ansari commented that the initiative will "significantly strengthen Qatar’s role as a regional and global player in deep-tech innovation." He added, "Through these programs, we aim to attract leading global deep-tech companies, while accelerating the commercialization of the outstanding science emerging from our universities and knowledge institutes.” 

In a statement, HE Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia of the Federal Republic of Germany Hendrik Wust, said, “North Rhine-Westphalia stands for innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. Together with ESMT Berlin and partners in Qatar, we are creating a powerful platform for technology transfer that strengthens our innovation ecosystems, drives economic growth, and reinforces North Rhine-Westphalia’s role as Germany’s economic engine.” 

Former Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany and honorary senator of ESMT Sigmar Gabriel, added, “This partnership is a strong signal of mutual trust, strategic collaboration, and a shared vision for the future between Germany and Qatar.” 

DEEP Qatar will operate across three integrated pillars—Creative Destruction Lab–Doha (CDL-Doha), DEEP Academy, and DEEP Pioneers. Each program will support approximately 20 science-led ventures every year, with support from an international network of mentors, entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, and researchers. Over its initial three-year phase, the lab aims to back more than 150 projects, drawing on innovation networks spanning Doha and Berlin.  

CDL-Doha will mark the first Creative Destruction Lab established in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Asia, delivering targeted programs across artificial intelligence (AI), health, agriculture, and food technology. The lab will be funded through the QIA’s Fund of Funds Program, which aims to strengthen Qatar’s venture ecosystem by attracting regional and global investors while closing financing gaps faced by local and regional startups. 

In parallel, DEEP Academy will deliver training programs for scientists and researchers from Qatar and the GCC, equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and the confidence needed to turn research breakthroughs into scalable companies. DEEP Pioneers, meanwhile, will identify high-potential technologies within Qatari research institutions and pair them with experienced founders to build globally competitive teams.