Outlining four priority areas, the Framework focusses on the UK and Qatar’s security partnership, expanding economic ties, establishing joint action on global issues and strengthening people-to-people connections.
It builds on the priorities set out in the 2010 UK-Qatar Dynamic Partnership, was agreed during the Amir of Qatar’s visit to the UK in December and is funded by the UK government’s Gulf Strategy Fund.
At the forefront of the Framework is the establishment of a joint AI research commission and collaborations between some of the UK and Qatar’s leading universities in areas of AI, technology and healthcare.
“The UK and Qatar have shown themselves to be trailblazers in AI innovation and policy, whilst mindful of the need to build strong systems of ethics and governance.
“I’m delighted that such prestigious UK and Qatari institutions are involved in this important initiative. It reflects both countries’ desire to work together on the shared challenges the 21st century will bring,” said Neerav Patel, British Ambassador to Qatar.
One of the projects is the UK-Qatar Genomics Research Collaborative between Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Sidra Hospital in Doha which focuses on precision medicine, taking an innovative approach to tailoring disease prevention based on people’s genes, environments and lifestyles.
The partnership includes plans for a UK-Qatar Precision Healthcare Academy to train the next generation of clinicians, scientists and counsellors from both countries.
Another collaboration led by QMUL in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute and Hamad bin Khalifa University is an AI research commission to establish a roadmap for UK–Qatar AI cooperation, exploring ecosystem development, policy and regulation, security and international engagement.
This initiative promises to be a catalyst for ingenuity and commercial opportunity, fostering a new era of technological cooperation
David Leslie, QMUL
Professor Colin Bailey, QMUL president, said he was “proud” and “honoured” to be embarking on the collaboration, which would “allow both universities to combine their collective knowledge and strengths to ensure AI technology is used in the best, safest way possible”.
QMUL’s professor David Leslie of Ethics, Technology and Society emphasised that now is a vital time to harness AI’s power for the public benefit, while addressing emerging risks and harms.
“By leveraging the dynamic AI research and innovation ecosystems of both nations, this initiative promises to be a catalyst for ingenuity and commercial opportunity, fostering a new era of technological cooperation between two global leaders in the field,” said Leslie.
