Qatar: Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), in collaboration with TotalEnergies Research Center in Qatar (TRCQ), has announced the launch of the QSTP x TRCQ WaterTech Accelerator. This program is specifically designed to support WaterTech and water DeepTech startups in developing scalable solutions and exploring the application of new digital and AI tools to tackle critical water challenges across the MENA region.
According to Qatar News Agency, the announcement was made by QSTP during a press conference held on the sidelines of Web Summit Qatar 2026. The accelerator aims to address pressing water-related challenges in the MENA region by deploying AI and other modern digital capabilities.
Rama Chakaki, President of QSTP, emphasized the urgency of addressing water scarcity in the region, stating, "Water scarcity isn't a future problem for the region, it's a present one. What excites me about this accelerator is that we're not just talking about the challenge, we're building the ecosystem to solve it. By bringing together innovative startups with TotalEnergies' expertise, we're positioning Qatar as the place where water solutions get built and deployed."
Antoine Delafargue, Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP Qatar and Country Chair, highlighted the focus of their research center on exploring new technologies to address operational challenges in the industry. He noted that water management is a major focus area, where cutting-edge technologies are employed to address these challenges. Delafargue stated, "Together with QSTP, we would like to explore and identify innovative solutions that leverage Digital and AI applications to advance this important topic. This initiative illustrates our commitment to using technology to make energy resources more efficient and sustainable."
The initiative aligns with Qatar Foundation's strategic focus on sustainability, supporting national and regional resilience with a focus on measurable impact. It follows the launch of QSTP's FemTech Accelerator in partnership with Merck, which supports startups improving women's health across the region. Together, these programs establish QSTP as a regional hub for sector-specific innovation.
The WaterTech Accelerator will support up to 60 WaterTech startups at intake, focusing on defined water priority areas such as efficiency, loss reduction, reuse, generation, pollution management, data systems, and AI-enabled infrastructure.
This initiative reflects the shared commitment of QSTP and TotalEnergies to advance applied innovation, strengthen the regional water innovation ecosystem, and unlock new opportunities for long-term resilience across the region.