HEC Paris in Qatar publishes first comprehensive review of Qatar's entrepreneurial ecosystem

HEC Paris in Qatar has published the first-ever book giving in-depth analysis of Qatar’s emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Qatar’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem provides stakeholders looking to maximize opportunities in Qatar with unique insights into every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from fund-seeking to product delivery. Written by HEC Paris Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dr. Allan Villegas-Mateos, the book draws upon a wealth of research and first-hand experience, including primary data from interviews with a breadth of critical stakeholders in the region.

Among its primary findings, Qatar’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem reveals that:

• Synergies between government, universities, industry and access to capital mean that Qatar is well-positioned to become an entrepreneurial powerhouse in the region.
• The country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is being bolstered by a number of key institutions such as Qatar Foundation, Qatar Development Bank and Qatar Financial Centre, who are providing frameworks to optimize talent development, finance and positive regulatory conditions.
• Qatar is home to several world-class education institutions that are helping to accelerate the country’s transition to a knowledge-based economy; one driven by innovation and home-grown talent. There are currently 18+ universities in the country offering equal opportunities to men and women, with women increasingly acknowledged as being particularly capable entrepreneurs.
• Financial sources are a strategic opportunity for future development in Qatar.

The book is the first to examine Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and processes in their entirety, offering investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers a comprehensive overview of the current reality, in all of its complexity. It also provides a set of recommendations gleaned from real-world best practices that stakeholders can adopt to support each other, and help advance towards Qatar’s National Vision 2030: the development plan launched by its government to transform Qatar into an advanced society capable of achieving sustainable development within a decade.

Welcoming its publication, Dr. Pablo Martin de Holan, Dean of HEC Paris in Qatar, said:

“Understanding entrepreneurial processes and entities is key to creating ideal conditions to develop an innovative economy, which in turn helps provide long-term employment and economic development in a sustainable and responsible way. In its examination of Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, this book identifies key stakeholders and analyzes Qatar’s ability to support business development and suggest avenues to improve the quality of the ecosystem, and the number and impact of entrepreneurial firms.” 

He added: “At HEC Paris in Qatar, we have a strong focus on nurturing entrepreneurs and SMEs as economic growth engines, and also as engines of innovation and diversification. As a key part of the country’s leadership equation we will continue to support Entrepreneurship and Innovation with relevant and timely research, and executive education to help bridge the gap between ideas, implementation, and successful, high-growth entrepreneurial firms.”

Qatar’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem will be officially presented on May 30, 2021 via an online session. Moderated by the author, Dr. Allan Villegas, the session will include Dr. Francisco Marmolejo, President of Superior Education at Qatar Foundation; Juha Peralampi, Manager of the Business Incubator at the Center for Entrepreneurship at Qatar University; and Michael Javier, Senior Executive Director at C-Wallet, as part of the panel. Members of the public wishing to participate can register for the event on the following link: click to register.