A joint bid between Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar University (QU) has been successful in securing the International Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development (ICEIRD).
The winning bid for the three-day conference organised by the University of Sheffield was presented in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The conference offers a platform for academics, university technology managers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and businesses interested in the theory and practice of university-industry links as well as innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development.
First held in 2007, ICEIRD has been taking place annually for the past 10 years in Europe; for its second decade, it will rotate worldwide and be hosted in a different region every year. The 2018 edition will be the first edition to be hosted in the Middle East.
Between 2014 and 2016, Qatar hosted a total of 56 events affiliated with the International Congress and Convention Association.
Ahmed Al Obaidly, director of Exhibitions at QTA said: “ICEIRD is a perfect match for Qatar as it is a regional hub where academics, innovators and entrepreneurs can continue to learn and share knowledge within and outside the walls of a conference hall.”
Over 250 conference delegates are expected to visit Doha in October next year to attend the conference for which Qatar University will be the local host.
Dr Khalid Al-Abdulqader, Dean of College of Business and Economics at QU said: “Our collaboration with QTA to bid for and host this event, boosts our efforts to invite academics to Qatar and collaborate with international universities. We look forward to hosting this event and building on QU’s reputation as one of the best universities in the region, particularly in the area of entrepreneurship education and research.”
QU is home to the Center for Entrepreneurship, an AACSB-accredited centre that has been identified as one of the 35 best institutions in Entrepreneurship Education worldwide in 2017.
Dr Mahmoud Abdellatif, Center for Entrepreneurship Director said: “In preparing for the conference, two international committees were formed: a scientific committee and another industry and community committee. “I look forward to ICEIRD 2018 adding great value to the entrepreneurship community both locally and in the region.”
Professor Panayiotis Ketikidis, Founder of ICEIRD, added: “Taking the 11th ICEIRD beyond Europe is a step towards to satisfying global demand for the wealth of knowledge that the conference has produced through its wide network over the past decade. We are highly honoured that the ICEIRD 2018 will be hosted by the University of Qatar and are confident that being hosted in a true regional innovation hub will further expand the conference’s network.”
