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Project Overview

The Qatar Business and Incubation Center Fabrication Laboratory (QBIC Fab Lab), was envisaged as a cornerstone for local innovators to bridge the gap in prototyping and product development — previously unavailable within Qatar.

Responding to a significant lack of local prototyping capabilities — which forced many entrepreneurs to seek services abroad, incurring high costs and delays — QDB sought to establish a dedicated space to streamline and localise this critical stage of product development.

Ibtechar, as Qatar’s leading provider of practical innovation solutions, was tasked with the complete design, creation, and management of the QBIC Fab Lab. The project mandate was comprehensive, covering facility design, technology procurement, team building, and operational management to ensure the lab met the needs of its users — ranging from individual entrepreneurs to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Innovative Design Approach

Ibtechar implemented a human-centred design strategy, dividing the facility into three distinct areas to support various stages of prototyping and product development:

  • Soft Prototyping

    Spaces for brainstorming and ideation where technical and creative discussions take place.

  • Small-scale Prototyping

    Equipped with modern tools like 3D printers and vinyl cutters for precise, clean prototype development.

  • Medium-scale Prototyping

    Designed for larger projects requiring heavy machinery, this area features advanced dust and odour control and soundproofing measures to maintain a conducive working environment.

This user-focused approach not only facilitated innovation but also encouraged collaboration within an interconnected community, supported by state-of-the-art technologies such as 3D scanners, laser cutters, and CNC routers.

Community Engagement and Training

To foster a culture of innovation, Ibtechar not only set up the lab but also engaged the community through competitions, conferences, and educational workshops, significantly focusing on digital fabrication technologies.

Tailored training programs in computer-aided design (CAD) were offered to upskill local entrepreneurs and integrate practical learning into their development processes.

Project Impact

Within just six months of operation in 2020, the QBIC Fab Lab achieved remarkable outcomes:

  • 30

    Workshops

    Hosted 30 workshops, contributing to nearly 285 hours of specialised training for the innovation community.

  • 45

    Prototypes

    Facilitated the creation of 45 prototypes, enabling entrepreneurs to iterate and refine their products rapidly.

  • 16

    Events

    Organised 16 events and seminars, significantly enhancing public knowledge and engagement with digital fabrication techniques.

Expansion and Recognition

The QBIC Fab Lab quickly became a central element of the Middle Eastern innovation ecosystem, attracting startups and established organisations like Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Foundation, and Qatar Museums.

These entities utilised the lab’s facilities to innovate and refine their products, showcasing the lab’s versatility and impact on larger-scale operations.

“By reducing the need for overseas prototyping, the lab has not only saved costs but has also accelerated the go-to-market process for numerous Qatari innovations, embedding the practice of local development and testing within the fabric of Qatar’s growing knowledge-based economy.”

— Nayef Al-Ibrahim, Ibtechar Co Founder and CEO

Let’s innovate together

Talk to Ibtechar about your next innovation project — and we’ll guide you through each stage from the drawing board to project implementation.

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