Qatar Cool to Strengthen Industry-Academia Collaboration with the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST)
The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) and Qatar Cool signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in student innovation, applied learning, research, professional development, and sustainability.
The MoU was signed at the University of Doha for Science and Technology by Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of the University, and Mr. Nahar Saleh Al-Mutawah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Cool, on behalf of their respective organizations, in the presence of representatives from both sides.
The collaboration will include student competitions and hackathons, innovation and applied learning initiatives, research projects, curriculum development, internships and training, and initiatives focused on sustainability and energy efficiency. These activities will connect academic learning with current industry practices and challenges.
The partnership builds on the successful Qatar Cool Hackathon, organized in collaboration with UDST’s College of Engineering and Technology, where students were challenged to develop innovative solutions addressing industry-related challenges. The initiative provided students with an opportunity to apply their engineering knowledge, work on practical problems, and develop solutions in an industry setting.
Commenting on the MoU, Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of the University of Doha for Science and Technology, said:
“Industry partnerships are an important part of UDST’s applied education model, providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Our collaboration with Qatar Cool reflects our commitment to connecting education with industry needs and creating meaningful opportunities for our students to develop their skills, innovation and applied professional capabilities.”
Mr. Nahar Al-Mutawah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Cool, commented:
“We believe in the important role the next generation of engineers can play in developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Through this initiative, we aim to give students the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to a practical industry challenge, helping to bridge the gap between academic learning and business needs. The QC³ Hackathon reflects Qatar Cool’s commitment to encouraging creative approaches to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship, while contributing to community development and supporting the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
The partnership also supports the University’s applied learning approach by bringing industry perspectives into the educational experience and creating opportunities for students to engage with professionals, explore emerging technologies, and develop solutions relevant to Qatar’s energy and sustainability priorities.
Celebrating the 2026 QC³ Hackathon Winners
The signing also provided an opportunity for Qatar Cool to recognise and award the winning student team of the 2026 QC³ Hackathon, which was organised in collaboration with UDST’s College of Engineering and Technology.
QC³ – Climate, Cooling and Creativity – reflects the engineering focus of the competition, bringing these three areas together to encourage students to think creatively about real challenges facing the cooling and energy sector.
Through the 2026 challenge, participating students were presented with a real operational engineering problem and asked to apply their academic knowledge, research and creative thinking to develop practical and innovative solutions.
Recognising the winning team on the same day as the MoU signing highlighted how the partnership is already moving beyond institutional collaboration and creating practical opportunities for students to engage directly with industry.