Doha: Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF) HE Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani underlined the importance of respecting the knowledge of the past, and finding balance, to make a difference to the world. Progress must be balanced with respect for what the past can teach, and innovators should pursue purposeful solutions rather than rushing innovation, Her Excellency told a global audience at Web Summit Qatar 2025.
According to Qatar News Agency, in a session titled 'Running in Circles: How the Old Has Become New', Her Excellency said: "Innovating for the sake of innovation may not find the solutions that we're seeking. It's important for us to really take stock of what's needed in the world and make sure that we're able to reflect on the knowledge of our ancestors as great innovations have come before. Do we have any knowledge today that is truly new or are we continuously renewing what has been here before? Understanding that, and respecting the knowledge of our forefathers, is essential to realizing what's important for us today, and to continue renewing knowledge and make it purposeful for today."
HE Sheikha Hind illustrated her views by speaking about Qatar Foundation - founded 30 years ago - and how her mother, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, sought to "learn from best practices around the world and localize them to our community, so we had the best quality of education while ensuring our culture and heritage was preserved". "Marrying the two was a formula she pushed for, and we can see that across the whole of Qatar Foundation, where we are picking and choosing what is best for us and, in that, creating something new," said HE Sheikha Hind. "But it is essentially part of something that existed before."
"It is important for us to reflect on what we are solving for, what it is that we need. And to understand that is a long journey. It took us 30 years to get to where we are today, and now we are a vibrant ecosystem that continues to support individuals not just in our country, but across the world." Her Excellency also spoke about understanding how to use the right technology at the right time, saying: "In our [Qatar Foundation] schools, we saw the effect of using digital technology among children at a very young age, and it was not constructive to their learning. It doesn't mean we ban technology across the board; it's about knowing when it is useful. With everything, you need to find the balance."
Reflecting on whether Artificial Intelligence is a friend or a threat, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind highlighted its benefits in areas such as services and security, while acknowledging the privacy concerns it brings. "There has to be some form of regulation that ensures we're not just completely relying on AI for everything, but also enables understanding of what's true and what's not," she said, adding: "We need to not just regulate, but also self-regulate." And discussing Qatar's attractiveness to foreign companies, she said: "We are sometimes criticized for our size, but that is the biggest advantage we can have. I have seen how Qatar has been transformed in just 30 years - if that can happen, imagine the opportunities to really pilot ideas in this country. The transformation is quick, and we have the talent pool here."
"We are a country that has a seat at the table where our voice matters. We have always been very clear about who we are as a country and what we believe in, and that is absolutely freeing, but also gives us a drive. Not many people in different countries have been able to witness the development of those countries, so we are truly privileged." The Web Summit Qatar, now in its second edition, has brought together over 20,000 people, including international entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders from around the globe.
QF's participation at Web Summit Qatar 2025 also includes its global education thinktank WISE hosting panel discussions on empowering innovation in education in the Middle East and North Africa region, and on accelerating edtech innovation; while the World Innovation Summit for Health, QF's global healthcare initiative, organized a session on developing a "cluster" of biomedical and precision health innovation in Qatar. QF's Hamad Bin Khalifa University - which has signed a multi-year strategic agreement with Web Summit to advance innovation and entrepreneurship - and QF partner universities HEC Paris, Doha, Northwestern University in Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar also participated in Web Summit Qatar 2025, with QF's Qatar Science and Technology Park being a Diamond Sponsor of the event.