Muscat: Oman’s Sumaya bint Saeed al Siyabiyah, who developed a solution to dispose of microplastics in a safe and environment friendly manner, is among the seven contestants qualified for the 14th season of ‘Stars of Science’ science reality show organised by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community.
These seven candidates from 2,500 applicants across the Arab world will be invited to Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) – Qatar Foundation’s (QF) technology hub, and home to tech-based entrepreneurs and their start-ups – to compete over the course of twelve weeks while developing, refining, and testing their innovations.
Sumaya, who expressed her happiness on qualifying, said, "I reached this stage after a strong competition, and my arrival at this stage confirms the great potential and capabilities of Omani innovators.” The Stars of Science programme is one of the leading programmes in the Arab world. It focuses on innovation with the aim of supporting and encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs in science and technology in the region.
The contestants will have to progress through several elimination rounds to secure a spot in the Grand Final, where two winners share a prize of seed funding.
Yosouf al Salehi, Executive Director of QSTP, said: “Today’s innovators do not work in a vacuum. They are part of a vast ecosystem; their ideas build off the discoveries of others before them, and their inventions often require the insights of experts hailing from different disciplines. As a key contributor to the innovation ecosystem in Qatar, we at QSTP aim to accelerate the commercialisation of market-ready technologies to realise the national drive towards economic diversification and sustainability.
“We are pleased to be part of the Stars of Science’s 13-year journey that introduced many Arab youth to the vibrant innovation community in the region and empowered them to forge new opportunities for the next generation across sectors and economies, in line with QF’s vision of creating an economic, social, and sustainable legacy.” Since 2009, many of the show’s alumni have launched their products or gone on to establish successful businesses in the Middle East and North Africa, reaching Europe, the Americas, and Eastern Asia.
According to Professor Fouad Mrad, one of the jury members, their time spent on Stars of Science empowered them to play an integral part in fostering the innovation ecosystems across the Arab world.
“Every contestant on Stars of Science benefitted from leveraging the knowledge and resources available at QF’s top-tier universities, innovation hubs, and research centres,” said Professor Mrad. “The ever-growing ecosystem of QF stands out on the global stage and exposes Arab innovators to the importance Stars of Science will air every Friday and Saturday until October 14 on six channels in the region and online.
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