News | Ministry of Transport

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

QITCOM2017’s CodeCamp, Innovation Theatre Competition Winners Announced

Doha – The Ministry of Transport and Communications has announced the winners of the two competitions; CodeCamp and Innovation Theater, organized at QITCOM 2017 – the fourth edition of Qatar’s information and communication technology exhibition and conference, which took place at QNCC on March 6-8, under the theme “Qatar towards a Smart Future.”The first-of-its-kind hackathon in Qatar and a brand new addition to QITCOM, the CodeCamp competition attracted more than 400 participants from within and outside of Qatar. Its finals began on March 3 and ended on the last day of the event.At CodeCamp, teams of young students and coders worked together over only 48 hours to develop creative technological solutions to a specific problem in four subject matter areas set by CodeCamp’s partners: digital transformation (Microsoft), smart travel (Qatar Airways), e-health (Ooredoo), and assistive technology (Qatar Assistive Technology Center “Mada”).36 teams competed within the four categories. Twelve teams qualified for the finals; with three teams in each category. After pitching their ideas, the judging panel selected only one winning team in each category. Those winners are “Team Naqood” for the assistive technology category, “Team Eczema” for e-health category, “Team Viable” for digital transformation category and “Team Oryx Hunter” for smart travel category.However, all the twelve teams that reached the finals will be incubated at the Ministry’s Digital Incubation Center.The four winning teams in each category received 75000 Qatari riyals in financial support to help them nurture their technological solutions.Over the three days of QITCOM 2017, the Innovation Theater competition attracted a large number of participations, entrepreneurs, and visitors. Ten teams won access and incubation at the Digital Incubation Center.The Innovation Theater competition’s top five teams received 375,000 Qatari riyals in financial support: Modares, EXdensity, Game of Brands, Wahm and Media Gate.The Innovation Theater also featured the “Make the Deal” event where teams pitched their innovative startup ideas to sponsoring and supportive companies, which accepted three ideas displayed by the three teams: VUL9 Cyber Security, AirGo Airline Seats, and Hasanat.Founded in 2011, the DIC offers expertise and professional guidance in the fields of technology and business. Services include access to space, business planning, education and training, mentorship, and legal advice, among others throughout the phases of the start-up development.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Fifth Regional Cyber Drill Wraps Up

Doha – The Fifth Regional Cyber Drill for Arab countries, hosted by Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC), wrapped up on Thursday.The Cyber Drill, organized by the ITU-Arab Regional Cybersecurity Center (ARCC) in collaboration with the ITU Arab Regional Office, featured several sessions tackling current cybersecurity issues and training sessions on cybersecurity.Worked as a platform for cooperation and discussions on current challenges in cybersecurity among the participating countries, the workshop also included some mock cyberattacks, where 18 teams dealt with different cyber threat scenarios based on the most common cyberattacks.Over the five days, the Workshop aimed at boosting communication capabilities, teambuilding and cyber threat response capabilities, aiming to maintain the ongoing efforts that Arab computer emergency response teams (CERTs) exert for combating cyber threats.Qatar, represented by MOTC, finished among the leaders in the Cyber drill, along with the Sultanate of Oman and Egypt.

Monday, March 13, 2017

Ministry Holds Orientation Meeting for Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture & Science

Doha – The Ministry of Transport and Communications organized an orientation meeting for the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, at the Ministry premises today.The meeting reflects the Ministry’s commitment to cooperation with all entities countrywide, aiming to update its staff on the business, objectives and messages of those entities. The meeting was attended by employees in directorial and supervisory positions.Dr. Hamda Hassan Al Sulaiti, Secretary-General of the Commission, addressed the attendees and updated them on the Commission’s vision, mission, roles and responsibilities. She also briefed them on the Commission’s values, principles, and the work done over the past few years. The Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science seeks to help and support government institutions and agencies, along with and non-governmental organizations, to make optimum use of the programs and activities provided by regional, Arab and international organizations. It also seeks to help strengthen the role of the State of Qatar in the international, regional and Islamic arenas by contributing to the areas of work of the Commission, and through effective local and international partnerships.Established on February 25, 1962, the Commission has been effectively contributing to achieving the goals of international organizations, which are aligned with Qatar’s educational objectives on the one hand and with the goals set by Qatar National Commission on the other. This happens through the implementation of a range of programs, projects and activities in different fields, and in close collaboration and coordination with national, regional and international partners in order to promote citizenship, human rights, justice and human dignity.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Ministry of Transport and Communications, Texas A&M University sign MoU

Ministry of Transport and Communications, Texas A&M University At Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on developing the information technology and communications sector through mutual projects and initiatives to support innovative, academic capabilities in the Qatar society.The MoU focuses on providing facilities to develop local small SMEs and startups.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Ministry of Transport and Communications helds partnership to boost digital transformation

Ministry of Transport and Communications and SAP company signed framework governmental agreement into boost technical competence, push the digital transformation in all governmental sectors.The agreement will increase the use of resources planning software, systems, and other applications provided by SAP.Mawared governmental system is based on SAP technology and provides services for more than 40 thousand staff in 43 governmental bodies.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

The Ministry signs MoUs with International Partners Agreements to support Smart Qatar program

Doha –The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) signed at Qitcom seven MoUs with international organisations in support of the Smart Qatar ( “Tasmu” ) program that will create access to cutting-edge research and expertise, and serve as a platform for valuable international collaborations.The MoUs were signed by MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development, Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori, and senior managers from the Qatar Stock Exchange, International Smart City Research Centre in Beijing, Huawei, e-Government Academy of Estonia, and UI Labs on behalf of City Digital in Chicago.“Smart Qatar will put Qatar among the world’s leading countries in the area of smart city tech and ICT. I am delighted to sign this series of MoUs with leading organizations in the field from Europe, the US, Asia, and Qatar”, Ms. Al-Mansoori explained.On signing of the MoU, Mr. Rashid Al-Mansoori, CEO of the Qatar Stock Exchange, said that the agreement calls for collaboration in the areas of digital start-ups and SMEs. He added that the Smart Qatar program would create new opportunities for private sector entities in the ICT and tech sectors in Qatar, and that successful companies should consider a listing on the Venture Market in the future. Mr. Steven Fifita, Executive Director of UI Labs at City Digital in Chicago, told a press briefing that the MoU covers a range of areas, including mutual projects via Chicago-based workshops and pilots, and the implementation of R&D projects on Smart tech themes such as cloud, open data, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things for Smart Cities. Dr Arvo Ott, Director of the e-Governance Academy of Estonia, welcomed the agreement which will create the mechanism for the exchange of information and expertise, identify mutual projects of interest and collaborations with the Digital Incubation Centre, and implement research and development programs. Mr. Wu Hong Hui, President of the International Smart City Research Centre in Beijing presented Ms Al Mansoori with a book containing the centre’s latest research and expressed his hope that a join publication would be possible in the near future. The MoU called for both entities to ‘develop and strengthen industrial, technological and commercial cooperation between the parties in the field of Smart Cities’, and exchange information on programs that foster collaboration. Huawei Qatar CEO and President, Mr. Zong Yan, signed the MoU and said that the company is well placed to support Smart Qatar by building new ICT infrastructure. The agreement covers six areas of collaboration; exchanges and collaboration in the field of ICT, talent development and training, supporting local ICT enterprise, technology evolution and R&D, digital society development, sustainability and CSR, and the sharing of experiences and expertise. Two further MoUs were signed in the cyber security area by MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Cyber Security Affairs, Mr. Khalid Al-Hashmi. The first was with MITRE, a US not-for-profit organisation that works with federal governments around the world to solve complex problems and improve security. MITRE Executive Director Mr. Gabriel Galvan signed the agreement and expressed his hope for a close and fruitful cooperation.The second MoU signed by Mr. Al-Hashmi was with Mr. Zong Yang, CEO, and President of Huawei Qatar. As per the agreement, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Huawei are committed to five areas of collaboration: cyber intelligence sharing, joint innovation efforts, training courses development, cyber security awareness, and ICT products cyber security testing lab.