• QRDI Council launches Small Business Innovation Grant (SBIG) aiming to support R&D and innovation in early-stage SMEs.
• The grant reduces investment risks, enhances product readiness, and drives economic diversification by supporting R&D-focused small businesses.
• With targeted funding and incentives, the grant aims to help SMEs scale, commercialize technologies, and expand into global markets.

QRDI

What happened? Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council launched the Small Business Innovation Grant (SBIG) during the Web Summit Qatar 2025. 

What is the program for? The program is designed to support early stage ventures by accelerating innovation and enhancing research and development (R&D) activities within SMEs.

Nada Al Olaqi, Senior Program Director-Innovation Development and Piloting Programs at QRDI Council said, “ We are working to provide an incubating environment that helps innovation flourish, helping these companies grow and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the State of Qatar.”

The grant is in alignment with the mission of the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council to drive the innovation agenda and promote economic diversification.  

Research and Development

Why does this matter? The grant aims to reduce investment risks associated with the development of technology in SMEs and startups. Additionally, it seeks to enhance product and service readiness. Ultimately, the goal is to drive economic diversification by generating R&D based revenue for SMEs. By supporting R&D-focused businesses, QRDI aims to reinforce its commitment to making innovation a key pillar of Qatar’s long-term growth strategy.

What are the program’s goals? By offering tailored funding and incentives, the QRDI Council aims to support economic diversification and drive commercialization of technologies. Furthermore, the grant specifically focuses on key sectors like healthcare, logistics, smart cities, and creative industries. This is to ensure that SMEs and startups conducting research, development, and innovation have the support they need to scale. Thus, providing them a path to commercialization in order to scale and meet global demand.