Muscat: The Al Sharqiyah South Governorate inaugurated the ‘Vision Crafters’ on Sunday at a ceremony attended by Shaikh Dr Hilal bin Ali bin Saud al Habsi, Wali of Sur. This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering innovation in line with Oman Vision 2040.
Suad bint Salim Al Fanna al Araimiyah, Director of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Office in the governorate, emphasised that the 'Vision Crafters' initiative aligns with Oman's national goals to establish an innovative ecosystem that supports sustainable development. The initiative reflects the governorate's commitment to nurturing local talent, harnessing creative potential and driving innovation as a key factor in national progress.
Al Araimi highlighted the governorate's ongoing efforts to promote innovation, referencing its notable achievement of securing first place in the 'Sustainable Solutions and Ideas' competition at the Amman Innovation Festival, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
Five projects from Al Sharqiyah South Governorate advanced to the second stage of the competition, out of 27 innovative entries from the region. The initiative's core objectives include spreading a culture of innovation within the community, identifying and cultivating talented individuals, particularly in AI, and fostering an environment that supports the transformation of creative ideas into tangible projects.
These efforts are aimed at enhancing Oman’s continued renaissance and promoting sustainable development through effective public-private sector partnerships. Nasser bin Rashid al Faraji provided an overview of the 'Vision Crafters' training programme, which offers practical courses in areas such as programming controllers like Arduino, drone programming, smartphone app development, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Theoretical training in entrepreneurship, innovative financing, intellectual property and economic feasibility is also included. Trainees' innovative ideas will be assessed for modernity, originality and economic viability, with feedback provided at the programme's conclusion.
Over the following two months, participants will have the opportunity to turn their ideas into market-ready products, potentially leading to the creation of new startups. The initiative aims to train 30 young men and women from Al Sharqiyah South Governorate in innovation and artificial intelligence, guided by Oman Vision 2040's goal of cultivating a creative and innovative generation. The 12-day training programme will offer specialised courses and workshops in modern technologies, artificial intelligence, economic feasibility and intellectual property.
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