• Registration is open until August 25, 2024.
• This call includes applications and digital projects from individuals, companies, and local institutions to compete in the various award categories.
• A local jury will evaluate the submitted projects and select 8 to represent the State of Qatar globally within 8 categories.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has announced applications opening to participate in the World Summit Awards 2024 (WSA 2024) competition. This call invites individuals, companies, and local institutions to submit their best digital projects and applications to represent the State of Qatar globally. 

Interested participants can submit their applications through the award's website at https://wsa-global.org/contest/submission-guide/ until August 25, 2024.

This initiative aims to integrate the efforts of individuals, companies, and all entities in Qatar’s digital transformation journey, enhancing Qatar’s global standing and aligning with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and Digital Agenda 2030 (DA2030).

The World Summit Awards 2024 competition is held annually to honor and encourage innovative digital projects that use modern technology to address social challenges and enhance the daily lives of citizens. 

The World Summit Awards 2024 include eight categories: 

Government and Citizen Engagement. 

Health and Wellbeing. 

Learning and Education. 

Environment and Green Energy. 

Culture and Heritage. 

Smart Settlements and Urbanization. 

Business and commerce. 

Inclusion and Empowerment.

Applicants can register their projects within these eight categories. 

The assessment of Qatar's projects is overseen by a local jury comprising experts and specialists appointed by HE Mrs. Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT, serving as Qatar's local expert for the award. The jury will choose one qualified nominee from each award category to represent Qatar globally. Projects must meet stringent evaluation criteria, necessitating full implementation on the ground; prototypes or drafts are not eligible for consideration.

The submitted projects must align with the competition's goals, emphasizing innovation and high-quality digital transformation. The projects must have also been produced within two years of the application submission date. All entries must adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, prohibiting any content that incites war, violence, or racial discrimination. Furthermore, projects must not infringe upon internationally recognized copyright and intellectual property rights. The jury reserves the right to reject any project that violates these guidelines.

In this context, HE Mrs. Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at MCIT said: "The World Summit Awards 2024 competition is a vital platform for adopting digital transformation and enhancing creativity. Participating in this competition will enhance the overall quality of life and provide a unique opportunity for companies and individuals to showcase their innovations globally. Based on this, we strongly encourage all innovators and entrepreneurs across Qatar to participate in this competition, as it represents an exceptional opportunity to highlight and promote Qatari’s innovative projects." 

The competition goes through several phases: the pre-selection process at the local level from each country, where the submitted projects are evaluated and the best eight projects are selected - one for each category, followed by the evaluation and the nomination of the eight projects by an online jury, then the final evaluation of the projects submitted by the participating countries is carried out by a grand jury of experts in this field, where in this phase the best 40 projects are selected - five for each category.

The final phase will include holding the World Summit Awards events and celebrating international digital innovation by displaying the winning projects in the presence of representatives from the participating countries and specialists in the field of communications and information technology. 

The World Summit Awards competition aims to raise awareness of the best digital content, which enhances the ability to positively change communities by promoting the best emerging digital projects and innovative applications that contribute to building a developed digital infrastructure. Furthermore, this competition fosters collaboration by creating international forums where startups, government leaders, businesses, and experts convene. 

Through this exchange of ideas and the formation of strategic partnerships, the Awards empower communities to harness the power of technology and drive positive change, shaping a brighter digital future for all. 

For more information about the World Summit Awards 2024 competition and submission requirements, please visit the following link: https://wsa-global.org