Iberdrola opens R&D&I hub in Qatar

The chairman of Spanish energy group Iberdrola (BME:IBE), Ignacio Galan, inaugurated on Wednesday a new research, development and innovation (R&D&I) hub in Doha.

The Iberdrola Innovation Middle East Center at the Qatar Science & Technology Park will focus on the challenges in the digitisation of energy systems. There the company will develop innovation and consultancy services in three areas -- smart grids, renewables integration and energy efficiency.

"The center aims at releasing new products and services for the digital utility, working at the intersection of energy and information and communication technologies," Iberdrola said. It will also serve as Iberdrola's central point for activities in the Middle East, the company said.

In 2017 Iberdrola spent more than EUR 246 million on R&D&I, up 17%year-on-year, for projects related to clean energy, smart grids, customer solutions and digital transformation. It said it is the third most innovative utility in Europe.

Also on Wednesday, the Spanish firm signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hamad Bin Khalifa University's (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering (CSE) for research cooperation, educational development and the exchange of staff, scholars and students, it noted.

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