Enter Your Email Address to Receive a
Copy of MedicExhange Member Demograhpics

Siemens announced plans to launch a development centre in Doha, Qatar, marking a major move for the company in its drive to develop local access to specialist technology and engineering disciplines.

Siemens announced plans to launch a development centre in Doha, Qatar, marking a major move for the company in its drive to develop local access to specialist technology and engineering disciplines. The centre will be hosted at Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a home for technology based international companies and part of the Qatar Foundation. The centre will include an industry research laboratory that will undertake research in fields such as transportation solution system design, operability and maintainability; integrated mobility strategies such as light rail vehicles for extreme climates, and energy assessment for light rail systems. Siemens also plans to set up a clinical training facility for doctors and technicians in Qatar and the region that will deliver courses for clinical applications.

Dr. Tidu Maini, Executive Chairman of QSTP, said of these plans “the collaboration between Siemens, QSTP and our clients is a testament to the commitment Siemens is making to the development of applied research in the fields of engineering and medicine. Siemens has a prestigious commercial track record in Qatar and I believe that the establishment of this development centre will make a significant contribution helping QSTP support the delivery of the Qatar National Vision 2030.”

“The establishment of this centre in Qatar is a natural progression of our historic relationship with the Middle East region – a key region for Siemens,” said Professor Hermann Requardt, Chief Technology Officer of Siemens AG. “The increasing demand for new infrastructure highlights both the need for the latest technologies and also the development of the specialist scientific and engineering knowledge here. Thus, the establishment of this centre is also testimony to expansive investments that the Qatari government is making, into developing top-level higher education and leadership talent in the region,” said Requardt.

When launched at the end of 2010, the centre will host technology sessions on clinical innovation, focused on specialists from the healthcare industry. The overall target is to reach approximately 600 candidates by the end of 2013.

Meanwhile, the centre will also host a research team from Siemens’ Mobility Division. Among their targets, is a planned study on the impact of extreme environmental conditions on urban mobility solutions, such as trams and trains. In undertaking this work Siemens will develop a collaboration with the Williams Technology Center (QSTP-LLC) on the interaction of Mobile Energy Storage Units in light rail systems. The results of this work are expected to help in the development of mobility solutions, which are optimized to withstand the challenging climate and soil conditions of the Gulf region.

“Our historic strengths in developing engineering innovation are continued in every part of our organization,” commented Requardt. “Today, over 30,000 researchers ensure that Siemens remains at the leading edge of developing technologies to meet the infrastructure development needs of rapidly evolving societies.”

Siemens has maintained a continuous presence in the Middle East region for over 150 years and in the Gulf region since the 1950s. During this time, the company has been an active partner in building infrastructure to help support the region’s development. In the Lower Gulf region alone, Siemens has a workforce of around 2,000 employees that hail from 60 countries across the globe.

Siemens WLL in Qatar was founded in 2005 and since played an important role in infrastructure building in the country.

Among these are a sizeable number of contracts to help build the electrical transmission and distribution system in the country. As part of the national project to expand the power distribution network in the state of Qatar, Siemens was awarded a contract named Phase IX by Qatar General Water & Electricity Corporation (Kahramaa), in April this year. The contract will see Siemens build and commission substations and switchgear valued at EUR510 million, as well as provide associated cables valued at EUR90 million to Kahramaa.

In addition to major projects in the energy sector, Siemens has been a partner for Qatari customers in a variety of areas. For instance, Siemens has maintained a long-lasting partnership with the Hamad Medical Corporation, to provide state-of-the-art healthcare technology for Doha.

Another example of Siemens’ commitment in Qatar is the large-scale cooperation that was completed in 2006, when the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee (DAGOC) awarded Siemens contracts to develop, supply and install a comprehensive command, control, communication and computer infrastructure, along with associated physical security systems (PSS), to manage the unprecedented number of visitors during the 15th Asian Games. The company also built a complete temporary airport terminal to manage the increased traffic during this period.

The launch of this centre marks another stage in the rapid investment that the company in facilities in Qatar, amounting to an estimated EUR10 million in the short-term.

“We have a successful history in Qatar and there is a yet more we can do here,” said Martin à Porta, CEO of Siemens WLL in Qatar. “The country is developing rapidly and there is clearly a demand for major infrastructure development. Siemens is perfectly positioned to give this fast development a further boost. We are driven by innovation and sustainability in all fields, similar to the focus that Qatar has defined for its growth vision. We remain committed to also playing an active role in the Qatari community. This centre is a part of that commitment.”

Source: Siemens