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The second edition of the Arab Innovation Academy (AIA), a collaboration between Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) and the European Innovation Academy (EIA), concluded with a grand pitching and graduation ceremony at QSTP.
QSTP is part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QFRDI).
AIA is the first and largest entrepreneurship programme in the region, aimed at equipping entrepreneurs in Qatar, the MENA region, and the global community with the skillset to build their start-up in just 10 days.
The programme, which began on January 2, brought together world-renowned technology collaborators, more than 160 participants selected from a pool of over 900 applicants, 25 speakers, and 37 mentors and investors representing 30 nationalities. The second edition of AIA also witnessed even greater participation from Arab women.
Yosouf Abdulrahman Saleh, executive director, QSTP, said: “Arab Innovation Academy is one of QSTP’s flagship initiatives, by which we follow through on our commitment to support tech-based entrepreneurship ventures in Qatar - through incubation, funding, training, mentorship, and connections to regional and global tech innovation ecosystems.”
Alar Kolk, president, EIA, said: “This unique, world-changing program is only possible through the vision and leadership of Qatar Foundation and QSTP. Our collaboration promises to empower young people to further the development of essential skills needed to transform the long-term prospects of the region.”
The start-up ideas produced by the participating teams addressed several global problems – from retaining children’s interest in reading and re-utilising industrial waste, to simplifying the search for blood donors – and spanned several industries, including health, education, construction, real estate, and tourism.
On the grand pitching day, top 10 teams presented their start-up ideas to investors, received valuable input from the attendees, and were directed toward areas where their business concepts should be further developed.
AIA 2019 first place winner was team ‘Salamat-e’, who developed a mobile app that serves as a ‘health passport’. The app is connected to GPS, and contains information about epidemic diseases in the region of a particular travel destination, as well as prevention methods and necessary vaccinations.
The team was composed of Bashar Shawar from Palestine Polytechnic University; Chaimae El Mahdaoui from Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Morocco; Polina Ladchenko from Higher School of Economics, Russia; Tareq Osman Babiker from Al Neelain University, Sudan; and Yafa Abd AlRahim from Birzeit University, Palestine.
The second place award went to team ‘Fly Stories’, who created a platform that provides children with an interactive reading experience, and authors with an outlet to publish their stories. (TNN)
QSTP is part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QFRDI).
AIA is the first and largest entrepreneurship programme in the region, aimed at equipping entrepreneurs in Qatar, the MENA region, and the global community with the skillset to build their start-up in just 10 days.
The programme, which began on January 2, brought together world-renowned technology collaborators, more than 160 participants selected from a pool of over 900 applicants, 25 speakers, and 37 mentors and investors representing 30 nationalities. The second edition of AIA also witnessed even greater participation from Arab women.
Yosouf Abdulrahman Saleh, executive director, QSTP, said: “Arab Innovation Academy is one of QSTP’s flagship initiatives, by which we follow through on our commitment to support tech-based entrepreneurship ventures in Qatar - through incubation, funding, training, mentorship, and connections to regional and global tech innovation ecosystems.”
Alar Kolk, president, EIA, said: “This unique, world-changing program is only possible through the vision and leadership of Qatar Foundation and QSTP. Our collaboration promises to empower young people to further the development of essential skills needed to transform the long-term prospects of the region.”
The start-up ideas produced by the participating teams addressed several global problems – from retaining children’s interest in reading and re-utilising industrial waste, to simplifying the search for blood donors – and spanned several industries, including health, education, construction, real estate, and tourism.
On the grand pitching day, top 10 teams presented their start-up ideas to investors, received valuable input from the attendees, and were directed toward areas where their business concepts should be further developed.
AIA 2019 first place winner was team ‘Salamat-e’, who developed a mobile app that serves as a ‘health passport’. The app is connected to GPS, and contains information about epidemic diseases in the region of a particular travel destination, as well as prevention methods and necessary vaccinations.
The team was composed of Bashar Shawar from Palestine Polytechnic University; Chaimae El Mahdaoui from Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Morocco; Polina Ladchenko from Higher School of Economics, Russia; Tareq Osman Babiker from Al Neelain University, Sudan; and Yafa Abd AlRahim from Birzeit University, Palestine.
The second place award went to team ‘Fly Stories’, who created a platform that provides children with an interactive reading experience, and authors with an outlet to publish their stories. (TNN)
