Oman’s Makerspace Centre to boost local manufacturing

 
The Research and Innovation Authority on Wednesday celebrated the official inauguration of the 'Oman Makers Centre' at the Muscat Innovation Complex, a national platform dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and national industries in advanced digital manufacturing and innovation.
The inauguration ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour.
Najah bint Mohammed al Rashdi, acting Diretor-General of the Innovation Centre at the Research and Innovation Authority, said that the establishment of the Centre is among the most prominent projects implemented through a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Beel Company under its offset partnership for development, and MakerSpace People, the project's implementing company.
She added that the Authority owns and supervises the Centre, while the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), represented by the Industrial Innovation Academy, operates it and links its programmes to the needs of industry and the market.

She explained that the Centre operates on the concept of makerspaces and open laboratories, guided by specialised international models. It combines knowledge, technology and expertise, enabling learning by doing and the transformation of ideas into valuable solutions.
She affirmed that during its pilot operation phase, the Centre hosted a number of startups and provided them with technical support, serving as a successful practical model of its role in turning innovation into economic activity. She noted that the inauguration establishes a new phase of institutional cooperation to empower national talent and support innovators in reaching the market.

Dr Malak bint Adam al Hashmi, Director of Oman Makers Centre, delivered a visual presentation covering the Centre's vision, mission and strategic objectives.
On performance indicators, she noted that the Centre has registered 98 members, delivered 1,666 training hours, and participated in 9 events and community activities. It has also conducted more than 45 introductory visits to institutions and received more than 50 visitors, reflecting efforts to raise awareness of the Centre's capabilities and expand the use of its services.
The Oman Makers Centre comprises an integrated system of workshops and technical laboratories equipped with more than 100 specialised devices and machines.
These capabilities include 3D printing technologies, precision laser cutters, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, electronics and smart circuits laboratories, and specialised carpentry and metalforming workshops.
The Centre's technical capabilities have contributed to notable national achievements, including the development of the first fully locally developed 3D printer, the development of a smart device for monitoring and controlling aquaculture water quality for one of the Oman Investment Authority's companies with 80 per cent local manufacturing inside the Centre, and the production of a 3-metre model of the International Space Station for Petroleum Development Oman.
On the sidelines of the inauguration, Dr Mahad toured the Centre's facilities to review its workshops, technical laboratories and modern equipment.
The Centre aims to accelerate the market entry of innovations, contributing to diversifying national income sources and stimulating manufacturing industries, in translation of the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 to build a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.