The Letter of Intent signed in Doha supports cooperation between Qatar and Italy on business innovation.
Doha/Milan, 21 December 2020
Start-ups and businesses in both countries will be encouraged to enter into partnerships, cooperation agreements, joint-ventures and mutual investments in innovative technologies.
– Qatar Foundation and Intesa Sanpaolo have signed a Letter of Intent to foster cooperation between the two countries in the field of business innovation.
The deal was signed today in Doha by Ahmad Hasnah, President of Hamad bin Khalifa University on behalf of Qatar Foundation, and Daniele Fanin, Head of the Intesa Sanpaolo Qatar Financial Centre Branch, in the presence of: H.E. Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communication of the State of Qatar; H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Qatar; H.E. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality & Environment of the State of Qatar; H.E. Luigi Di Maio, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy; H.E. Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Qatar; H.E. Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Italy.
The aim is to facilitate, promote, encourage and strengthen innovative industrial relations between the two countries, through cooperation, collaboration, joint projects, and support for high-tech start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises by Qatar Foundation and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, the Intesa Sanpaolo Group company dedicated to innovation
Start-ups and businesses in both countries will be encouraged to set up partnerships, cooperation agreements, joint-ventures and mutual investments in innovative technologies. Qatar Foundation and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center are committed to working together to foster innovative new investment opportunities in Qatar and Italy, based on shared values and common principles that include encouraging entrepreneurship and fostering international cooperation.
Dr. Richard O’Kennedy, Qatar Foundation Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation, said: “Over the past 25 years, Qatar’s research, development and innovation (RDI) culture and infrastructure have grown through investment, nurturing talent, and establishing meaningful partnerships. Building on the long-standing and valued ties between our nations, this intention to explore further collaborations in RDI is aimed at addressing our shared priorities while generating global impact. Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation’s everexpanding collaborations with leading organizations and institutions across the world not only enhance the reach and visibility of Qatar Foundation’s RDI efforts, but also allow the valuable exchange of knowledge and expertise.”
Guido de Vecchi, General Manager of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, commented: “The Letter of Intent marks the start of important new relationships on innovation, through which we plan to develop a new launch pad for start-ups and highpotential Italian companies in Qatar, as we have already done in other countries where our Group operates. Since 2009, the Innovation Center and Intesa Sanpaolo have run 133 investment forums in Italy and abroad, enabling 1.033 start-ups to meet some 12.000 investors, businesses and operators in the innovation sector and to garner over 164 million euro in funding. Thanks to the invaluable partnership between Qatar Foundation and Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI Corporate and Investment Banking Division headed by Mauro Micillo, under which the Doha branch operates, we will be able to explore the local innovation ecosystem for future partnerships and embark on scale-up programs, helping grow innovation in Italy and Qatar.”