Qatar launches AI research grant for healthcare, education, tourism
New AI grant to award up to QAR 500,000 annually per project
#Qatar #grants – Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) has launched Artificial Intelligence for Qatar (AIQAT), a joint research grant scheme offering funding of up to QAR 1 million ($274,000) over two years to address priorities identified in the National AI Strategy. The programme targets three priority areas: AI-assisted healthcare, AI-assisted education and AI-assisted tourism. Awards provide up to QAR 500,000 ($137,000) per year for up to two years, with proposal submissions closing on 11 March 2026 and awards announced in June-July 2026.
SO WHAT? – AIQAT strengthens collaboration between government entities, academia and the private sector by positioning AI as a catalyst for sustainable development and technological leadership. The programme aims to address challenges associated with privacy breaches, data misuse, cultural sensitivity and propagation of biases. The scheme encourages the use of Arabic large language models alongside multimodal AI, natural language processing and emerging AI-based technologies, so the initiative emphasises local context and cultural considerations rather than simply looking to impor international AI solutions.
Here are some key points about the new grant scheme:
Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) and Qatar’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) have launched Artificial Intelligence for Qatar (AIQAT), a joint research grant scheme offering funding of up to QAR 1 million ($274,000) over two years to address priorities identified in the National AI Strategy.
The programme opened for proposal submissions on 14 January 2026, with final submission deadline of 11 March. The awards announcement will take place June-July 2026 with projects commencing in the second half of the year. The scheme is open solely for researchers affiliated with institutions in Qatar.
AIQAT targets three priority areas:
AI-assisted healthcare focusing on diagnostics and patient data analysis with emphasis on accuracy and confidentiality;
AI-assisted education harnessing tools to personalise learning experiences and adapt to diverse student needs; and
AI-assisted tourism leveraging AI for personalised recommendations, smart city transport logistics and data analytics
Lead principal investigators (LPIs) must hold an approved terminal degree (e.g. PhD) and be affiliated to an approved submitting institution inside Qatar, with the applying entity required to be a Qatari institution approved by QRDI Council.
Research priority areas require applicants to submit applied research proposals aimed at exploring innovative approaches and demonstrating methodological rigour to provide tangible implementable solutions to businesses and societal services within Qatar.
Applicants are advised to use research technologies including software engineering, natural language processing, large language models, Arabic LLMs, multimodal AI, Internet of Things, advanced sensors, computer-human-interaction tools, blockchain and other emerging AI-based technologies.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
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Apply for AIQAT grant (QRDI)
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