- What
- Up to US$100,000 in QRDI funding per challenge for a funded pilot.
- Who
- Startups, SMEs and corporates with a commercial registration.
- From abroad
- Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026) All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Checked · October 2026 · innolight.qrdi.org.qa/en/opportunities/p?fundin… · How we check ↗
In detail
QRDI Qatar Open Innovation (QOI) is a non-dilutive challenge grant (pilot funding) in Qatar. Challenge-based pilot funding run by the QRDI Council on its Innolight platform with government and corporate challenge owners (e.g. the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, KAHRAMAA). Each challenge invites startups, SMEs and corporates to propose a technology for a stated problem; awardees run a funded proof of concept or pilot with a path to scale-up, joint development, supplier agreement or licensing. The QOI portal shows no live programme and up to 100,000 USD in QRDI funding per challenge (checked October 2026).
- Amount
- Up to US$100,000 in QRDI funding per challenge
- Eligibility
- Start-ups, SMEs and corporates with a commercial registration; more than one proposal per organisation allowed; employees of QRDI and the challenge owner excluded (challenge page)
- Sectors
- Agriculture, health, water, energy, marine environment — set per challenge
- Benefits
- Funded proof of concept with a government or corporate challenge owner · pathway to supplier agreement or licensing
- Status
- Closed — no open challenge on Innolight or the QOI portal (checked October 2026); challenges are published in waves
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what QRDI Qatar Open Innovation (QOI) publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Technology Piloting & Adoption (86) ... Closed Technology Piloting & Adoption Rapid detection of harmful chemical mixtures at package entry points 365K QAR 1 Year QOI-12 Challenge #”
“INNOLIGHT Powered by QRDI Council | Copyright © 2026.QRDI Council | All Rights Reserved”
“MoECC invites proposals from Startups, SMEs, and Corporates for technologies that enable Rapid detection of harmful chemical mixtures at package entry points.”
“Proof of concept leading to scale-up, joint development, supplier agreement, and licensing.”
“Closed Technology Piloting & Adoption Floating Solar Panels 474K QAR 1 Year QOI-39”
“Important Dates 28 April 2026 Application Close Submission 30 April 2026 Shortlisting Phase 30 June 2026 Evaluation Phase 31 August 2026 Award Announcement”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare grants & prizes in Qatar
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| QRDI Qatar Open Innovation (QOI)Up to US$100,000 in QRDI funding per challenge for a funded pilot. | up to US$100,000 | Funding per challenge | Closed |
| FinTech Development Grant (QFTH)Milestone-linked co-funding of up to QAR 1.5M per company (QDB, Dec 2025). | up to QAR 1.5M | No equity | Open |
| Innovation Coupon (Qatar Foundation RDI)Grant in three time-limited tiers that take an idea step by step to market. | not published | Grant | Active |
| Qatar–Spain Innovation Program (QASIP)Co-funding up to QAR 1.5M for 1–3 year bilateral Qatar–Spain R&D projects. | up to QAR 1.5M | No equity | Closed |
| QRDI SBIGGrants up to QAR 3M over 3 years, or phased QAR 800K–2.2M funding. | up to QAR 3M | No equity | Closed |
| QRDI Technology Development Grant (TDG)Co-funding up to QAR 10M per project; the company also carries a funding share. | up to QAR 10M | No equity | Closed |
| ROWAD AwardsBusiness award incentives. | not published | No equity | Closed |
| Stars of Science (Qatar Foundation)Qatar Foundation TV innovation competition; its FAQ lists a $300,000 first prize. | not published | Prize money | Closed |
| WISE Prize for EducationShare of a $1M prize pool; finalists get $100,000–125,000 each to build an MVP in 12 months. | $100,000–125,000 | No equity | Closed |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
Questions founders ask
What does QRDI Qatar Open Innovation (QOI) offer?
Up to US$100,000 in QRDI funding per challenge for a funded pilot.
Does QRDI Qatar Open Innovation (QOI) take equity?
Funding per challenge — equity terms not published.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Not stated on the programme’s site (checked September 2026).
Is it open now?
No — it is currently closed. The status on this page follows the programme’s own site.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · innolight.qrdi.org.qa/en/opportunities/p?funding-types=all&tab=busine… · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/qrdicouncil · Checked October 2026