Request for Applications: Media Horizons Program (Qatar)

Deadline: 18-Feb-2026

The Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council (QRDI-C), in partnership with AlJazeera Media Network (AJMN), invites applications for the Media Horizons Call. This initiative funds projects up to QAR 300,000 for 12 months to develop high-tech digital solutions that promote media integrity and strengthen audience engagement, with all activities and budgets executed within Qatar.

Overview

The Media Horizons Call supports research and development projects that advance media integrity and audience engagement through innovative digital solutions. Projects must focus on rapidly deployable outcomes that can be applied in real-world media environments. Eligible projects include Arabic text-to-speech technologies and deepfake detection systems, addressing critical challenges in content authenticity, voice synthesis, and disinformation prevention.

Funding Details

Grant Amount

• Maximum funding per project: QAR 300,000

• Project duration: up to 12 months

• Full budget and effort must be executed inside Qatar

Eligible Costs

• Research and development activities conducted in Qatar

• Implementation and validation of algorithms and media tools

• Resource allocation for project delivery and valorisation

Ineligible Costs

• Travel expenses

• Indirect or overhead costs

• Unapproved co-funding without proper documentation

Encouraged Contributions

• Cost-sharing or co-funding to enhance project scope and impact

Who Is Eligible?

Lead Principal Investigator (LPI)

• Must be affiliated with a QRDI-approved submitting institution in Qatar

• Must hold an approved terminal degree

• AJMN staff are not eligible as LPIs, PIs, or team members

• Can submit only one application per cycle

Submitting Institutions

• Must have QRDI-approved Research Offices

• Collaborative institutions must include at least one affiliated PI

• Academic, public, private, and non-profit entities are eligible

Proposal Vetting

All proposals must be vetted by the Research Office of the submitting institution to ensure compliance with QRDI-C policies before submission through the online system.

Research Focus Areas

Arabic Text-to-Speech (TTS)

• Address critical gaps in Arabic speech synthesis

• Deliver natural, emotionally expressive voices in Modern Standard Arabic and key dialects

• Applications include news, audiobooks, podcasts, multilingual content, and real-time streaming

• Advanced features: diacritization, code-switching, dialectal variation, emotional control, and zero-shot voice adaptation

• Utilize open-source models and publicly available datasets while leveraging AJMN expertise

Deepfake Detection

• Develop state-of-the-art multimodal detection models

• Ensure robust generalization against unseen generative methods, including diffusion-based systems

• Address risks to political discourse, journalism integrity, and personal identity protection

• Create rigorous benchmarking and evaluation frameworks using next-generation datasets

• Deliver operational tools for newsroom integration, social media triage, and archival forensics

How to Apply

1. Confirm eligibility of LPI and submitting institution

2. Prepare the proposal using QRDI-approved templates

3. Submit the proposal via the online system

4. Ensure institutional vetting by the Research Office before submission

5. Include clearly defined research objectives, methods, and expected outcomes

Evaluation Process

• Proposals passing screening undergo a one-step fast-track review by independent external experts and AJMN reviewers

• Assessment criteria:

  • Scientific excellence: originality, rigor, and innovation

  • Implementation: feasibility, methodology, and timeline

  • Resources: adequacy of budget, personnel, and infrastructure

  • Valorisation: impact, scalability, and applicability

• Additional comments on ethical and regulatory compliance will be considered

Award Management

• Awarded institutions are responsible for project management following the Grant Agreement

• Funding is disbursed in two instalments:

  • Initial advance upon signing the grant agreement

  • Reimbursement after acceptance of final technical and financial reports

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Including AJMN staff as project members

• Submitting proposals without institutional vetting

• Budgeting for ineligible travel or indirect costs

• Failing to focus on deployable outcomes within 12 months

• Weak methodological rigor or lack of rapid implementation plan

Why This Grant Matters

The Media Horizons Call strengthens media integrity and audience engagement in Qatar by supporting research in AI-driven media technologies. It empowers researchers to develop Arabic TTS solutions and deepfake detection tools, fostering innovation, credibility, and authenticity in modern media.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can AJMN staff participate? No, AJMN staff are not eligible as LPIs, PIs, or team members.
Is international collaboration allowed? Collaborative institutions are permitted but must include at least one Qatar-affiliated PI.
Are travel costs covered? No, travel is an ineligible budget item.
How is funding disbursed? In two instalments: advance upon signing and reimbursement after final report acceptance.
Must all work be done in Qatar? Yes, 100% of effort and budget must be expended in Qatar.
What outcomes are expected for Arabic TTS projects? Functional algorithms for natural, emotionally expressive Arabic voices optimized for multiple media applications.
What outcomes are expected for deepfake detection projects? Robust, multimodal detection systems, benchmarking frameworks, and operational verification tools for media workflows.

Conclusion

The Media Horizons Call by QRDI-C and AJMN funds high-impact research to develop AI-driven solutions for media integrity and audience engagement. It encourages innovative, rapid, and deployable technologies that advance Arabic TTS and deepfake detection, strengthening Qatar’s media ecosystem while supporting domestic research and development.

For more information, visit QRDI-C.