Turkey's state-run Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK) and the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) have signed a deal for scientific and technological cooperation.

The agreement's first stage involves cybersecurity as the two allies face increasing online threats. TÜBİTAK's chairman, professor Arif Ergin, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they would support projects for the protection of energy grids, telecommunications and other infrastructure from cyberattacks and bolster data security for mobile devices.

Pointing to last May's cyberattack against a state-run news agency in Qatar that paved the way for the Gulf crisis, Ergin said the countries need higher security for their cyber infrastructures.

"We have to take measures to prevent a repeat of what happened in Qatar," Ergin said, referring to the hack of Qatar's state-run news agency, which resulted in the distribution of statements falsely attributed to Qatari leaders, culminating in criticism from Saudi Arabia.

"Turkey has supported Qatar economically and in terms of defense since the crisis broke out, and this time TÜBİTAK will combine its power with Qatar's power," Ergin said, adding that about $2 million will be contributed to joint projects by private-public partnerships in cybersecurity.