Doha, Riyadh, Dubai - Towards a Golden Triangle of Innovation and Tech Adoption?

TLDR; I am taking a much needed little break, a step back to disconnect from the daily hustle, to better reconnect moving forward. Glad to count on both the amazing teams at Desjardins and Montreal Newtech to continue their great work empowering innovative entrepreneurs, their respective missions, and the startup ecosystem at large. And I am humbly taking the time to explore three key cities of the middle-east, and looking to share my 15+ years of experience building the Canadian innovation & startup ecosystem with key stakeholders, learn from their experiences and aspirations, and hopefully develop meaningful ties within Doha, Riyadh and Dubai's ecosystem.

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In the dynamic landscape of the tech start-up and innovation ecosystem, the seamless integration of cooperation and collaboration emerges as a cornerstone for addressing crucial challenges in an efficient and sustainable way. Globally, nations are directing their focus towards the intersecting priorities of both climate action, supply-chain autonomy, and economic development; guided by the imperative of digital innovation. Within this era dominated by AI nd soon to be quantum advancements, the identification and support of visionary entrepreneurs, key audacious companies, policymakers and government change agents, are paramount to solve this sometimes seemingly antagonistic conundrum. However, it doesn’t need to be a dilemma; quite the opposite.

Over the span of fifteen years now, my efforts have been steadfastly dedicated to fostering vibrant tech entrepreneurs communities, contributing to building the innovation ecosystem, and nurturing the creation and growth of start-ups with synergetic support of multiple stakeholders. As we stand poised at the threshold of a new era, the strategic alignment of collaborative initiatives assumes heightened importance. The emergence of transformative technologies, exemplified by the $300M of Quantinuum (a Honeywell 's spin-off) this year and advancements such as the Groq LPU’s inference engine, holds the promise of unlocking innovative solutions across various sectors, ranging from food security to supply chain optimization. Moreover, beyond the key milestones achieved by OpenAI two years ago, the new armed race in LPU chipsets is just the beginning of a new open field of transformative innovation.

Canada occupies a unique position within the global landscape, boasting abundant resources and positioned for a transition towards a true knowledge-driven, sustainable economy. With a decade and a half of immersion in Canada's innovation ecosystem, I find myself drawn towards the nexus of opportunity where our ecosystem intersects with the ambitions of some key “emerging” markets. Through the consolidation of our respective start-up communities, we possess the potential to forge enduring connections and catalyze sustainable progress. Quebec and other provinces within Canada's longstanding tradition of welcoming immigrants have cultivated a diverse and dynamic pool of talent, offering a fertile ground for collaboration and innovation. It is within the context of this dynamic migration landscape that meaningful connections are forged, binding our futures inexorably together.

I've always been drawn to emerging spaces, brimming with untapped potential, where the recipe hasn't been fully written yet, much like Desjardins and the startup world eight years ago. So, I'm taking advantage of the #WebsummitQatar in Doha to take a glimpse at the region, hoping, with humility, to share ideas and experiences from my learnings over the past 15 years to contribute to the Canadian innovation ecosystem, rooted in Quebec. I aim to learn from the best, those who strive for efficiency and excellence while cherishing values dear to me: aspirational impact, EDI/IDEA (check the photo above for a better understanding of the journey ahead), and a culture of paying it forward. There is always deeper work to be done to head forwards together into the future to have tangible impact and drive sustainable socio-economic growth, while acknowledging where we are coming from, local realities, and macro-economic and geopolitical drivers, but keeping the future goals in sight.

Recent developments in bustling metropolises like Doha, Riyadh, and Dubai have underscored a shared aspiration to transcend traditional paradigms and embrace forward-looking strategies. That makes me think of an emerging Golden Triangle for innovation and tech adoption. And the convergence of Canadian experience with the growing aspirations of some key complementary markets presents a wealth of untapped opportunities, awaiting exploration through knowledge exchange and collaborative partnerships.

Since my arrival on Sunday, I've engaged in fruitful discussions with several stakeholders in Doha. I extend my sincere gratitude for their time and insightful discussions, whether with QNB Group - Qatar National Bank, Quantinuum , Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council , Hassad Food Company, QIC - Qatar Insurance Group, Qatar Airways , talabat , Vesuvio Labs , Al-Rabban Capital, GWC | Official - Gulf Wharehousing Company, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Ooredoo Group and TASMU SMART QATAR , Hamad International Airport , among others. I also deeply appreciate the warm reception from Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of a state undergoing a highly inspiring transformation.

It's been enlightening and invigorating to gain deeper insights into our respective ecosystems, recognizing similarities, and exploring synergies. I eagerly anticipate what lies ahead!

The golden triangle formed by Doha, Riyadh, and Dubai attracts many seeking opportunities in a post-oil world. Yet, I firmly believe that building genuine trust, based on what contributed to the success of the Canadian ecosystem between 2008 and 2018, with ambition, agility, and empathy, is essential for fostering collaborative successes in our shrinking world, while avoiding the pitfall of clinging to past achievements. On both sides of our borders, we can and must move beyond a reliance on finite natural resources and embrace the infinite resources of our collective intelligence.

While Quebec and Canada, with their geopolitical advantages and unwavering resolve, shine internationally in an admirable manner, I believe it's time to leverage these strengths to accelerate both transformation and impact. Today, more than ever, we must ensure that we build our future through concerted, impactful action based on the human and environmental values we aspire to. And it all begins with humble, respectful discovery, dialogue of ideas regardless of the starting point, and the exploration of collaborative action leveraging each other's strengths and complementing weaknesses.

It is this conviction that fuels my belief in forging alliances with other "emerging" territories, notably the Middle East, India, Africa, where trust can flourish, collaborations can thrive, and tangible action can have a real impact.

As an entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, and advocate for open innovation, I approach this juncture with humility and a wealth of experiences. Eager to share insights and receptive to new learning opportunities, I extend an open invitation to all stakeholders interested in forging collaborative endeavors. Together, let us navigate the currents of change and pioneer a path towards collective success.

If you know individuals or organizations with serious experience in building innovation ecosystems, corporate labs (beyond mere marketing), venture studios, CVCs, or startups leveraging science and technology for impact, please don't hesitate to connect. Those who know me, understand how open I am to share and mutually enrich with experiences of successes, failures, and the learnings from the past 15 years... and who knows, perhaps together we can explore the realization of a future of economically and socially responsible innovation-driven economic development.