Shell hosts TEDx delegates at Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre

Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre (QSRTC) hosted before yesterday a group of 64 TEDx organizers from around the world, giving them a tour of the facility and an overview of the research being done at the centre.

Qatar and the Doha Film Institute have been selected to host the first global meeting of the top TEDx organizers during a five day TEDxSummit taking place between April 16th and April 20th, 2012.

The work at QSRTC, which is located at the Qatar Science and Technology Park, is focused on the development and implementation of technologies that support Qatar’s energy industry, specifically in the fields of Gas to Liquids (GTL) jet fuel research, GTL catalyst testing and research, demonstrating novel uses for sulphur, and carbonate reservoirs and CO2 Storage.

Shell has worked in partnership with Qatar Petroleum on the development of the Pearl GTL plant, a project which is established under a Development and Production Sharing Agreement with the Government of the State of Qatar. The Pearl GTL project was launched in July 2006 and was officially inaugurated by His Highness, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar on 22 November 2011. It is the largest GTL plant in the world today, and at an investment of $18-$19 billion, the Pearl Project is Shell’s largest single investment.

Youssif Saleh, Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre General Manager, said: “We always strive to support initiatives that contribute to the development of Qatar, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. TEDx and Shell both have a focus on technology and innovation, and we are honored to host the TEDxSummit delegates at our research centre for their first visit to Doha.”

TED is a non-profit, founded in California in 1984 as a yearly conference for bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, and Design. The goal: ‘Ideas worth spreading’. TED puts together the most extraordinary thinkers and leaders of this world, to share their passions and ideas with an audience within 18 minutes, and with millions of people who view their ‘TED talks’ online.

TEDx events are independently organized local events that inspire communities to discuss big ideas in a wide range of subjects – education, health, community, science, design, technology, entertainment and more. Nearly 3,700 TEDx events have taken place in three years, in 1,000 cities, in more than 125 countries. The TEDxSummit being held in Qatar is the first time that TEDx organizers from all around the world meet each other in person and share best practices.

Shell is committed to a substantial expenditure of up to $100 million over a 10-year period on a world-class technology innovation and development programme at the Qatar Science & Technology Park. Also Shell filed the first patent application for an invention by any company there.

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