DRAFT. Workshop on Turning Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge- Based Economy. Organized by. Qatar Planning Council Qatar Foundation World Bank

Transcription

1 DRAFT Workshop on Turning Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge- Based Economy Organized by Qatar Planning Council Qatar Foundation World Bank Qatar, Doha January 15-17,

2 Workshop Turning Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge-Based Economy: Assessment, Visions and Ways Forward Agenda January 15-17, 2007 Location: Marriot Hotel, Doha January 15 8:00 8:15 Workshop on Turning Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge-Based Economy Welcome and overview of the workshop: Main goals and objectives Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al-Thani, Kurt Larsen, World Bank 8:15 10:00 Why Turning Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge-Based Economy Global perspective: Why are countries aiming at becoming knowledge-based economies? Jean-Francois Rischard, World Bank Qatar perspective: Opportunities and challenges for transforming Qatar into a knowledge-based economy. Fahad Al-Naimi, Qatar Foundation 9:00 10:00 10:00 10:30 Coffee Break 2

3 10:30 12:30 Reaping the benefits from an efficient information infrastructure The use of ICTs are improving the quality and cost-efficiency of all private and public sectors and creating new opportunities in trade, business connectivity, education, health, environmental, and natural resource development. All countries need to harness the full potentials of ICT investments. Wajdi Mattar, Supreme Council of Information & Communication Technology? Comments and recommendations on reaping the benefits from an efficient information infrastructure: Bruno Lanvin, World Bank. 12:30 14:30 Shaping a dynamic national innovation system A national innovation system plays a crucial role in acquiring, adapting and disseminating knowledge. The innovative performance of private enterprises, research institutes, universities, consulting firms, think thanks, and others depends to a large extent of how these actors interact and collaborate with each other as elements of a broader innovation system. Ben Figgis, Qatar Science and Technology Park Comments and recommendations on shaping a dynamic national innovation system: Jean-Francois Rischard World Bank. January 16 Workshop on Turning Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge-Based Economy 3

4 8:00 10:00 Building a creative education system and a flexible labor market Education is a fundamental enabler of the knowledge economy. A well-educated workforce is essential for creating, sharing and applying knowledge efficiently. Fahad Al-Naimi, Qatar Foundation Comments and recommendations on shaping a dynamic national innovation system: Ministry of Education, Department of Labor, Zafiris Tzannatos and Kurt Larsen, World Bank. 10:00 10:30 Coffee Break 10:30 12:30 Creating an enabling economic incentives and institutional framework An adequate economic incentives and governance framework is a necessary condition to benefit from investments in innovation, research and development, education and information technologies. Saad M. Khalid, The Planning Council Comments and recommendations on creating an enabling economic incentives and institutional framework: Omer Karasapan, World Bank. 4

5 12:30 14:30 The social pillar of the knowledge-based economy Knowledge economy strategies for Qatar must take account of the historical, social, political and cultural specificities of Qatar as well as social networking, trust, leadership and entrepreneurship issues (the fifth pillar of the knowledge economy). Laila Shrair,, The Planning Council January 17 Workshop on Turning Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge-Based Economy 8:00 10:00 How to turn Qatar into a Competitive Knowledge-Based Economy 10:00 10:30 Coffee Break This session will address the following issues: What are the key facilitators and obstacles for turning Qatar into a knowledge-based economy? How to create synergies between the different pillars of the knowledgebased economy? What models, strategies and choices for turning Qatar into a competitive knowledge-based economy Which recommendations have highest priority for creating a knowledgebased economy in Qatar? Introduction to the discussion by Jean-Francois Rischard, World Bank Discussion and finalization of the recommendations 5

6 10:30 12:30 Qatar 2025 Vision and the knowledge economy In 2005, the Planning Council took the initiative to formulate a future vision of Qatar in collaboration with several stakeholders and institutions in the public, private and civil society sector. The vision includes four main pillars: human development, governance, economy and environment. The aim of the workshop s third day is to discuss how the visions in Qatar 2025 related to the knowledge economy can be converted into practical strategies and initiatives to turn Qatar into a knowledge-based economy. Presentation of the main visions and desired outcomes in Qatar 2025 Vision with emphasis on the four knowledge-economy pillars: economic incentives and institutional framework, education and workforce development, innovation and information infrastructure. Presentation of the recommendations from the two previous days on how to turn Qatar into a competitive knowledge economy. Introduction by Khalid Al Heeti, The Planning Council Realization of the Qatar 2025 Vision Issues to be addressed: Who are the leading institutions who will be responsible for making knowledge economy component of the Qatar 2025 Vision a reality? What benchmarks and indicators could be used to measure the progress in realizing the Qatar 2025 Vision? Speaker(s) from Qatar Comments and questions from the World Bank 12:30 14:30 Realization of the Qatar 2025 Vision (continued discussion) Issues to be addressed: Who are the leading institutions who will be responsible for making knowledge economy component of the Qatar 2025 Vision a reality? Would it be feasible to create a small number of clusters of innovation 6

7 that would formulate concrete knowledge economy strategies within the different clusters? What benchmarks and indicators could be used to measure the progress in realizing the Qatar 2025 Vision? Speaker(s) from Qatar Comments and questions from the World Bank Discussion and next steps. 7