Future Communications Call — 1st
Supports Qatar communications and network innovation projects on AI-enabled services and future telecommunications.
Eligibility · QA
⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.
The Future Communications Call (FCC) is a joint research grant program launched by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) and Ooredoo Q.P.S.C., Qatar's publicly listed telecom operator, to advance next-generation telecommunications technologies. The 1st cycle opened on 14 January 2026 at 12:00 PM Doha time and closed on 18 March 2026. Award announcements are expected in July 2026. Each funded project receives up to QAR 1,000,000 (approximately USD 274,000) for up to two years.
The 1st cycle prioritized four research themes: AI-powered networks for secure, efficient, and adaptive telecommunications; 6G technologies expanding daily-life applications beyond 4G/5G capabilities; seamless hybrid satellite/cellular/fiber network architectures; and quantum computing penetration and its implications for existing network infrastructure. Eligible applicants are academic institutions and government entities inside Qatar. The Lead Principal Investigator must hold an approved terminal degree per QRDI's published policies and must be affiliated with an approved submitting institution inside Qatar.
FCC was created to position Qatar at the forefront of global telecommunications innovation while meeting rising domestic demand for secure and reliable connectivity. The program follows QRDI's standard four-stage process: proposal submission through the Innolight portal, institutional research office final vetting (deadline 8 April 2026), external peer review, and formal award decision. Supporting documents included the FCC 01 RFA, research plan template, and joint funder support letter from Ooredoo. The industry co-funder structure reflects QRDI's broader model of pairing academic research grants with national industry partners to accelerate technology translation, a pattern also seen in the AIQAT and AAIC calls launched in the same January 2026 round.
Next-generation communications research including 6G technologies, AI-powered networks, hybrid satellite/cellular/fiber systems, and quantum computing implications for telecommunications.
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