The College of Engineering at Qatar University (QU) has launched the Third Global Congress on Engineering and Technology under the patronage of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The congress will run from 3-7 December 2023, and encompasses the Fifteenth Global Conference on Energy Applications, the Fifteenth Global Conference on Social Robotics, and the Global Conference on Resilience in Mobility and Logistics: Challenges and Opportunities. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change will serve as a silver sponsor, Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO) as a platinum sponsor, Qatar Shell as a gold sponsor, and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) as a contributing sponsor.

In his opening speech, HE Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, expressed pride in the Third International Congress for Engineering and Technology (ICET-2023), which QU organized. The event, highlighting the exchange of diverse viewpoints and ideas, underscores the significance of fostering innovation, collaboration, and future-focused thinking.

“As a leading academic institution in the region, Qatar University recognizes the paramount importance of this congress for exchanging opinions and ideas. It serves as a testament to our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the advancement of technology. Qatar, renowned for its leadership in technological advancements across various sectors such as chemical industries, production, cultural exports, media, and major sporting events, places great emphasis on integrating Arab principles into its technological endeavors.”

HE Sheikh Dr. Faleh acknowledged the challenges faced by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, stressing the importance of preserving natural resources and cultivating an innovative culture for a more promising future. "Our challenges, environmental, engineering, and technological, are not mere academic disciplines but integral parts of our lifestyle. Engineering and technology are revolutionizing sustainable transportation methods through highly efficient electric and hybrid cars. Moreover, advancements in modern irrigation techniques contribute significantly to reducing harmful emissions and enhancing fuel efficiency." HE Sheikh Dr. Faleh emphasized.

Dr. Omar Al-Ansari, President of QU, expressed his enthusiasm and stated, “The timing of the Third Global Congress is optimal for discussing advancements in energy application fields, along with related developments ensuring sustainability and best practices to mitigate environmental impacts. This extends to advancements in other engineering fields like social robotics, resilience in mobility, and logistics. At a time when the world faces numerous key challenges such as raw material shortages, supply chain issues, rising commodity prices, food insecurity, and the impact of climate change".

He further added, “Through this congress, we are delighted to host participants, researchers, and scientists from over 56 nationalities, with over 400 scientific papers in the Fifteenth Global Conference on Energy Applications and 69 papers in the Fifteenth Global Conference on Social Robotics. We hope that the scholarly discussions stemming from these papers will contribute to a deeper understanding of advancements in these crucial fields of knowledge.”

Dr. Al-Ansari highlighted the significant focus of QU on advancing the educational process, conducting studies and research relevant to local and regional challenges, advancing knowledge, and positively contributing to meeting the needs and aspirations of society. This commitment aligns with the university's mission, which it endeavors to achieve by engaging academics and other staff in professional services and community service.

Dr. Khalid Kamal Naji, Dean of the College of Engineering, commented, “The congress includes plenary sessions and keynote lectures covering various topics related to energy applications, social robotics, resilience in mobility, and logistics. We anticipate this congress will serve as a platform for technical information exchange, dissemination of high-quality research findings, and presentation of new policies and scientific advancements in these fields.”

He continued, “The congress received a significant number of abstracts and scientific papers from around the world, aiming to participate in all three conferences. Scientific papers will be published in reputable scientific journals. Participants, researchers, and scientists from over 56 nationalities are involved, with over 400 scientific papers approved for the Fifteenth Global Conference on Energy Applications and 69 papers for the Fifteenth Global Conference on Social Robotics.”

Prof. Saud Ghani, Head of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at QU, expressed, “The Fifteenth Global Conference on Energy Applications (ICAE2023) aims to bring together experts in sustainable energy and energy applications to discuss the future of sustainable energy, enabling the transition to clean and renewable energy, including hydrogen energy, and energy transformations for a sustainable future. The conference involves numerous international experts and researchers in energy applications, featuring keynote speeches, plenary sessions, specialized workshops, oral presentations, and poster sessions.”

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Ali, Director of KINDI Center for Computing Research, said, “KINDI Center is pleased to organize the Fifteenth Global Conference on Social Robotics QU for the first time in the MENA region, under the theme 'Human-Robot Collaboration: in Sea, Air, Land, Space, and Cyberspace.' The conference brings together researchers and practitioners in the field of human-robot interaction and integrating social robots into society. It includes presentations of scientific research papers in robotics and four days of workshops.”

Dr. Al-Ali added, “The conference is accompanied by an exhibition of social robots from several leading global companies in this field and student competitions to encourage exploration in this fascinating field, especially now with the artificial intelligence revolution. The conference is organized by a team of faculty members representing the KINDI Center and three departments of the College of Engineering at QU in collaboration with their counterparts from international universities.”

Dr. Shimaa Al-Quradaghi, Director of the Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center, stated, “The Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center is pleased to announce the convening of the Global Conference on Resilience in Mobility and Logistics. In a complex scene where the world faces several key challenges such as raw material shortages, supply chain issues, rising commodity prices, food insecurity, and the impact of climate change, the resilience of the transportation and logistics sectors for national economies is more important than ever. Qatar places the transportation and logistics sectors at the top of its priorities, working to build an infrastructure committed to the highest standards to enhance the Qatari economy. Hence, the idea of organizing the conference aims to exchange experiences and expertise, addressing strategies for flexible mobility planning, local initiatives to enhance mobility resilience, challenges, and best practices in integrating mobility resilience into services and logistics.”

Dr. Al-Quradaghi added, “The conference involves industry experts, researchers, and decision-makers, encompassing discussion panels that will provide valuable opportunities to showcase the latest studies, real-life examples, and successful applications. The conference will contribute to enhancing cooperation and idea exchange in the fields of research and industry, promoting the transition towards a more sustainable future.”

Prof. Saud Ghani, Head of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at QU, led a panel discussion during the event. Participating were Dr. Youssef Al Salehi, CEO of Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP); Dr. Yousef Abdullah Al-Kuwari, CEO of Engineering Affairs at Qatar Petrochemical Company QAPCO; and Sheikh Dr. Soud Khalifa Al-Thani, Director of the Green Development and Environmental Sustainability Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.