Contact Information: For further information or to arrange an interview: Ben Figgis Qatar Science & Technology Park bfiggis@qstp.org.qa Tel: +974 492 7130 Kerry Morris Hill & Knowlton kerry.morris@hillandknowlton.com Tel: +974 418 1292 Media Contact Marianne Jumean Cisco +9714 3907777 jmariann@cisco.com Investor Relations Andreas Goldau Cisco +44 20 8824 8209 agoldau@cisco.com Industry Analyst Relations Sharon Robinson Cisco +44 779 529 0641 sharobin@cisco.com
Qatar Science and Technology Park and Cisco Team to Help Improve Human Capital and Technology Development
Cisco to Establish Office at QSTP
| Source: Cisco Systems, Inc.
DOHA, QATAR--(Marketwire - January 22, 2008) - Cisco (NASDAQ : CSCO ) Chairman and chief
executive officer John Chambers met with Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint
Nasser Al Missned today to announce the company would establish a research
and technology base at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). Cisco
is planning to invest approximately (USD $40 million) in its development at
QSTP over the next three years. As part of this plan, Cisco will
collaborate with Qatar Foundation on a series of projects to help enable
QSTP's vision of transforming Qatar into a knowledge-based economy and
facilitating youth employment across the country.
The announcement follows Cisco's recent official recognition as one of the
first global strategic technology providers for Qatar's newly launched
Youth Employment Initiative, announced by Sheikh Mozah during the UN
Alliance for Civilization High Level Group Forum in Madrid last week on
Jan. 15.
QSTP Executive Chairman, Dr Tidu Maini, stated: "Networks are an essential
part of business, education, and communications technologies. We are very
pleased to be able to work with Cisco on these projects and utilise its
expertise to help transform Qatar's ability to access and share
information, which is a fundamental part of becoming a knowledge-based
economy."
Paul Mountford, president, Emerging Markets for Cisco, said: "Qatar
Foundation has earned a well-deserved reputation as a leader in providing
innovative solutions and improving the lives of the citizens of Qatar. We
are committed to working with Qatar Foundation to help improve the
development of human capital and technology by transforming the education
strategy through technology in Qatar and across the region."
Qatar Foundation will be working with Cisco on the launch of 'Project iQ,'
a global project aimed at building a collaborative platform comprising
business and collaboration applications, including blogs, wikis,
TelePresence, social networking and unified messaging. Through technology,
the project will allow people from Qatar Foundation, Qatar and across the
globe to collaborate on areas of research, education, health and youth
employment.
Through Cisco's capability in working with and being co-located with QSTP,
Cisco will share its knowledge and expertise in the industry's leading
solutions, working with local partners and customers to introduce Connected
Healthcare, Connected Education, Connected Tourism and Real Estate industry
solutions throughout Qatar.
During his visit to Qatar, Chambers also attended an education roundtable
discussion which was hosted by Dr Sheikha Al Missned, President of Qatar
University. The roundtable discussed the global challenges of creating
education systems that can deliver 21st century skills to help drive
technology innovation, economic prosperity and social cohesion.
To reduce the information technology skills shortage in Qatar, Cisco will
be providing technical training to local universities, partners and
customers as well as offering internship opportunities. Cisco further aims
to address the needs of entrepreneurs and small-to-medium business owners
at its Entrepreneur Institute. Working with local organisations, the
programme will develop or license educational content for entrepreneurs to
enable sustainable business growth.
Qatar Science & Technology Park fosters the development and
commercialisation of technology in Qatar, a rising star in the Arabian Gulf
with the world's third largest gas reserves and a remarkable vision for
human development. As part of the renowned Qatar Foundation, founded by
the country's Emir, the science park is co-located with campuses of
Carnegie Mellon, Texas A&M, Weill Cornell and other premier universities.
It provides research-friendly premises for companies from around the world,
plus an incubator and investment for technology start-ups. Already EADS,
ExxonMobil, GE, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Shell and Total have joined Qatar
Science & Technology Park, and its first phase of buildings opens late
2007. www.qstp.org.qa
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