DOHA: Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) yesterday inaugurated its office at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). Present at the ceremony were, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister, Maxime Verhagen, QSTP Executive Chairman, Dr Tidu Maini, TNO CEO, Jan Mengelers and several TNO experts.
Speaking on the occasion, Verhagen said there are many opportunities for partnership in the energy field between Qatar and the Netherlands. The two gas producers had signed an agreement back in 2008 to support companies and organisations in setting up joint projects in the area of energy innovation and trade, he said.
"There are big opportunities for both our countries in these fields, by working together and sharing knowledge we can make each other stronger," Verhagen said.
He pointed out that the opening of the new TNO office in Qatar symbolises his country's ambition to set a bridge between one of the leading independent Dutch institutions for applied research and one of the three leading energy producing regions in the world with great potential for energy innovation being offered.
Dr Maini, said about the event: "The combination of technology, skills and expertise resulting from the collaboration between TNO and QSTP will introduce a better way in using the country's resources. In particular, their expertise in developing new technologies for increasing the production and recovery from oil and gas fields, the safe and economical production of sour gas, CO2 emission reduction and utilisation and water treatment technologies can help increase the wealth of an energy rich country like Qatar.
Mengelers noted that the opening of TNO's Middle East branch office at QSTP is a main step in fulfilling the company's ambition to become an accelerator for technology development and innovation serving industry and society in Qatar and the Middle East.
"An office in the Middle East will help us to expand our long-term relations with companies and universities," he said.
"Qatar Science & Technology Park is a home for technology-based companies from around the world and an incubator of start-up enterprises. The opening of the TNO office is an excellent example of how QSTP supports technology development."
The TNO office will make a wide range of technologies and expertise available, with an initial focus on the oil and gas sector, including production optimisation, carbon capture and storage (CCS), gas treatment, asset integrity and LNG.
In addition, the activities will be expanded in key sectors for the region, such as water treatment, solar, ICT and medical technologies. TNO activities will also include maximising the production and recovery of upstream oil and gas assets, the full value chain of technologies to address the CO2 challenge, including its utilisation.
This also covers safe and economical production of sour gas, reliability and safety of assets as well as water treatment and desalination. Besides, the office will also be involved in the transfer of knowledge with projects to be supported by programs for professional training and workshops as well as the training of Master, PhD students/internships.
© The Peninsula 2011
