Doha, Qatar
Leading the development of Qatar’s National RDI Strategy and innovation cluster architecture, focusing on priority sectors with strong global competitiveness potential to accelerate economic growth, industrial diversification, and societal impact. Driving the design and execution of high-impact innovation clusters, aligning government, industry, academia, and investors into coordinated ecosystems that enable technology development, commercialization, and private-sector-led R&D growth. Leading the design and execution of strategic initiatives that: * Define sector-level innovation roadmaps and investment priorities * Structure public-private partnership models to unlock co-investment and industry participation * Build integrated innovation ecosystems connecting research, startups, corporates, and global partners * Accelerate technology transfer, venture creation, and industrial competitiveness * Strengthen Qatar’s position as a globally competitive innovation hub Leading cross-sector collaboration and stakeholder alignment to transform fragmented efforts into coordinated, outcome-driven innovation systems, enabling scalable impact across key industries.
Led three flagship national innovation programs, positioning QRDI as a key driver of industry-led innovation and R&D investment: Qatar Open Innovation (QOI) * Designed and executed a national open innovation platform, connecting corporates and government entities with startups, SMEs, and solution providers to solve strategic industry challenges * Enabled organizations to access external innovation capabilities, accelerating solution discovery, testing, and deployment * Facilitated demand-driven innovation, aligning real industry needs with emerging technologies and entrepreneurial solutions Technology Development Grant (TDG) * Directed a competitive funding program supporting startups and SMEs in developing innovative products, technologies, and IP * Accelerated technology maturation and commercialization, bridging the gap between R&D and market deployment * Strengthened the local innovation pipeline, enabling scalable ventures and high-value technology creation Industry Innovation Challenge (IIC) * Led a challenge-based innovation program engaging large enterprises to define strategic problems and co-develop solutions with startups and SMEs * Stimulated collaboration between corporates and innovators, accelerating adoption of new technologies within industry * Positioned large enterprises as anchors of the innovation ecosystem, driving demand and scaling solutions Additional Impact * Enabled public-private collaboration models, aligning government funding with industry needs and priorities * Increased private-sector participation in R&D, supporting national objectives to boost BERD and innovation-driven growth * Built structured pathways for innovation from idea → funding → development → commercialization * Strengthened Qatar’s innovation ecosystem by connecting corporates, startups, SMEs, and research institutions
Impact: Delivered a full-fledged AI Integrated Operations Platform (IOP) to optimize decision-making, operational control, and multi-stakeholder coordination of critical FIFA World Cup operations within the National Command Centre (MOI), addressing the unique challenges of the most compact FIFA World Cup in history. Enabled seamless execution at national scale: 1.5M+ visitors managed, 3.4M stadium attendance, 64 matches in 28 days, and 18.5M public transport journeys across metro, buses, taxis, and airport systems. * Led and executed the Integrated Operations Platform (IOP) project: an AI- and data-driven platform (MS Azure) integrating operations across Hayya, transport, security, and crowd management * Led the systems and data integration of 20 organizations and 36 systems into a single centralized platform, ensuring high availability and reliability of mission-critical systems * Enabled real-time, predictive decision-making, significantly improving response times, risk prevention and operational coordination across all critical services * Directed delivery with global contractors to provide real-time operational intelligence to CCCs, enhancing situational awareness through AI, data management, and analytics * Optimized operations through real-time and historical intelligence across metro, bus, airport, land borders, taxis, stadium parking, smart parking, crowd management, traffic, escorting ops, tram, accommodation, workforce and media analytics * Enabled a Common Operating Picture across 26 national operators/command functions, driving synchronized decision-making, collaboration and real-time operational coordination * Translated complex data and AI into real-time, decision-grade intelligence for Gold Commanders, enhancing national operational performance * Led cross-functional teams (data, technology, and ops) to deliver ad hoc operational and security intelligence to Gold and Silver Commanders, Ministry of Interior and Transport.
Impact: Transformed innovation into execution at global scale for FIFA World Cup 2022™, leading the Hayya program, deploying AI-driven operational platforms, and converting multi-stakeholder innovation efforts into implemented solutions across 58 major projects. - Led the National Fan ID/Hayya Program: strategy, procurement, Service Center Ops, National Committee, customer journey and implementation of the Hayya Physical Card, Hayya Digital App and Integrated Operations Platform - Led the digital transformation of 100% Hayya physical card to digital Hayya app ops, reducing operating costs to 89%, improving fan experience, and avoiding capacity and last minute operational risks - Led and executed the Integrated Operations Platform project: AI-based and data management platform to integrate operations related to Hayya program, Transport Operations, security or crowd management with AI-based technologies, amongst others - Successfully managed/executed Hayya’s Stadium Operations during FIFA Arab Cup and Amir Cup 2021 for 6 stadiums including crowd management, service centers management, support services strategy, IT, security. - Led FAC/FWC innovation portfolio related to sustainability, fan experience, stadium experience, phygital/immersive reality, mobility, power, transport ops, entertainment. - Identified/transformed innovation concepts from 58 Host Country projects into the SC Innovation Portfolio (FIFA+Q22) - Created, launched and chaired the Qatar Innovation Community (QIC) with the largest 20 national private and public organisations (MCIT, QRG, QNB, QFC, QDB, QR, QU, Aspire, Etc) through MIT REAP. - Championed the Customer Experience and Football Innovation Communities - Launched 44 innovation/strategy workshops and PoCs (FIFA Club Wold Cup 2019, Amir Cup, FIFA Arab Cup) combining industry, universities, R&D Centres, banks, startups, investors, incubators/accelerators and government.
Impact: Built and led the innovation program from the ground up for FIFA World Cup 2022™, establishing the foundational strategy, governance, operating model, KPIs, and collaboration frameworks required to institutionalize end-to-end innovation, from ideation to execution, and enable systematic generation, prioritization, and deployment of high-impact solutions across the organization. - Transformed the organization into an innovation-driven enterprise, embedding innovation into strategy and operations and enabling all departments to systematically identify and execute innovation initiatives - Designed and deployed an enterprise-wide digital innovation platform, activating organization-wide participationand scaling idea generation, evaluation, and implementation across functions - Established a structured innovation pipeline, converting fragmented ideas into prioritized, funded, and implemented initiatives across multiple departments - Built and institutionalized a centralized innovation governance model, aligning leadership, departments, and decision-making under a single strategic innovation agenda - Defined and implemented innovation KPIs and performance systems, enabling visibility, accountability, and data-driven prioritization of innovation investments - Led a cultural transformation from siloed execution to cross-functional collaboration, significantly improving coordination, knowledge sharing, and solution development speed - Developed and executed a strategic innovation roadmap, focusing organizational efforts on high-impact initiatives aligned with World Cup delivery and legacy objectives
Founded and scaled a high-growth innovation and strategy consulting firm, advising corporations and governments on innovation transformation, R&D optimization, and strategic growth. Strategic Impact * Built and led a multi-disciplinary consulting firm (21 professionals) * Generated 234% annual revenue growth while scaling high-value advisory services in innovation and strategy Innovation & Strategy Leadership * Achieved 87% client retention and recognition as a high-growth “Gazelle” company * Designed and executed 21+ corporate innovation strategies in high-tech and global markets * Led 46 R&D programs across industries, acting as an outsourced R&D function * Developed innovation portfolio management frameworks, maximizing ROI across financial, strategic, and capability dimensions * Support innovation clusters development within regional innovation ecosystem across aerospace, agritech, biotech, software, telecommunications, renewable energy, healthcare and automotive industries. * Implemented 24 corporate innovation audits through IMP3rove's European Program Transformation & Organizational Impact * Delivered 14 corporate transformation programs, for innovation-driven strategies, governance, performance, KPIs and culture * Designed and implemented enterprise-wide innovation systems and platforms (Brightidea, Spigit...) Capital & Funding Strategy * Secured €68M+ in public R&D funding with a 92% success rate (Regional, National and European Funding) * Structured innovation initiatives aligned with European funding frameworks and industrial priorities Business Model & Growth Innovation * Led 30+ business model transformations using Blue Ocean and Jobs-to-be-Done approaches * Delivered 15 go-to-market and growth strategies, accelerating commercialization and revenue generation Ecosystem & Open Innovation * Designed and implemented open innovation/crowdsourcing systems Key Clients Hyundai, MIT, Torsa, Steinbeis Network, Isofotón, AT4 Wireless, Altra Corporation
Led the design and execution of a €4.5B regional innovation transformation, architecting one of Europe’s most comprehensive innovation ecosystems to drive industrial competitiveness, R&D performance, and economic growth. Key Impact * Architected the Andalusia Innovation & Modernization Plan (€4.5B), defining/executing a fully integrated regional innovation system across R&D, universities, digital infrastructure, energy, sustainability, and eGovernment * Lead the Regional R&D Strategy, optimizing performance across: * 11 technology parks * 54 technology centers * 12 industrial clusters * Multiple innovation and entrepreneurial networks * Directed the end-to-end innovation portfolio (regional, national, and EU programs), establishing capital allocation frameworks based on impact, ROI, and strategic priorities * Designed and implemented innovation performance systems (OECD/European Commission) * Led a structural transformation of government operations, merging three ministries (Industry, Telecommunications, Education) into one single Innovation Ministry * Orchestrated cross-ministerial strategy alignment (Environment, Health, Agriculture, Education), ensuring integrated policy execution at scale * Coordinated and mobilized a large-scale expert network (257 teams) to design and execute sector-specific innovation strategies * Designed and deployed a digital innovation management platform for 3,500+ employees * Led the regional innovation ecosystem governance, integrating public institutions, industry, and academia to accelerate technology transfer, private R&D investment, industrial competitiveness and internationalization * Secured and managed European RDI programs (FP6/FP7, Interreg, CIP, Europe Innova) * Acted as an international advisor on national innovation systems, contributing to policy design * Served on the Board of Directors of public innovation institutions, contributing to strategic oversight and governance (IMABIS)
Led applied research and technology transfer initiatives across advanced engineering domains, contributing to the development of industry-aligned R&D capabilities and innovation infrastructure in one of Germany’s leading industrial regions. Key Impact * Directed multi-disciplinary R&D programs (EU FP6 and national initiatives) across microsystems, nanotechnology, and advanced materials, aligning research execution with industrial and commercial applications * Managed end-to-end R&D operations, including laboratory infrastructure, resource allocation, and project delivery, ensuring efficient execution of complex research portfolios * Secured and coordinated public R&D funding (regional and national), aligning research priorities with Baden-Württemberg’s industrial strategy * Acted as a technology transfer interface between research and industry, advising companies across semiconductor, automotive, IT, and mechanical sectors on innovation and commercialization pathways * Played a key role in launching the ZEMIS Microsystems Engineering Center of Excellence, contributing to the region’s long-term innovation and technology capability building * Led advanced research initiatives, including nanotechnology development using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), strengthening the institute’s position in emerging technology domains * Drove market positioning and visibility of R&D capabilities, coordinating participation in international industry events and exhibitions * Designed and implemented the institute’s digital and communication strategy, including development of its web platform to enhance industry engagement and knowledge dissemination