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QATAR FOUNDATION
The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development is a semiprivate chartered nonprofit organization in Qatar founded in 1995 by the then-emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his wife, Moza bint Nasser. In addition to private funding, it is government-supported, and in some ways it is government-funded. The Qatar Foundation (QF), which is chaired by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, has spearheaded Qatar’s endeavors in establishing itself as a leader in education, science, and cultural development on both the regional and the global scale. The QF has stated its aim "to support Qatar on its journey from a carbon economy to a knowledge economy by unlocking human potential.”
The organization’s initiatives are oriented towards education, science and research, and community development. It has solicited a number of international universities to establish campuses in Qatar as part of its goal to develop a youth population with the necessary expertise to sustain a knowledge economy. Its main science and research agenda is developing Qatar’s technological capacity by researching new technologies which can be successfully commercialized.
In addition to diversifying the economy, this strategy also helps achieve Qatar’s aim of becoming a research and development hub. The foundation’s social development programs aim to preserve Qatar’s culture, "foster a progressive society,” and confront pressing social issues.