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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Pact inked to drive renewable energy development in Oman

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GlassPoint Solar, the leading supplier of solar energy to the oil and gas industry, has signed a collaboration agreement with a host of partners to establish its corporate social responsibility initiative, the ‘GlassPoint Innovation Spur’. The programme is set to contribute and sustainably drive innovation within Oman’s renewable energy and water management sectors. The list of partners includes The Research Council (TRC), Innovation Park Muscat (IPM), Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) and Sharakah.


An intensive full-cycle incubation programme, the ‘GlassPoint Innovation Spur’ will provide aspiring Omani entrepreneurs with an integrated ecosystem of scientific, technical and business support. The two-year programme will equip participants with valuable skill sets through coaching and mentorship, as they transform their innovations into implementable businesses. A robust screening, selection, and testing criteria is in place to ensure originality and economic feasibility. Selected entrepreneurs will receive practical support to further develop their inventions and establish businesses before being linked to investors.


Signing the agreement on behalf of GlassPoint was Ben Bierman, COO and Acting CEO: “GlassPoint is committed to driving innovation for a sustainable Oman. That is why we are launching the ‘GlassPoint Innovation Spur’ to act as a catalyst and create green businesses. It transcends typical business-related programmes because it goes beyond conceptualisation and training and focuses on knowledge-transfer. Thanks to the contributions of our partners, we are able to offer a full-fledged mentorship and incubation programme that promises to hone the business acumen of Omani entrepreneurs and help them grow their inventions into feasible and sustainable businesses.”


Dr Hilal Ali Zaher al Hinai, Secretary-General of TRC, remarked: “The Research Council recognises the significant role of entrepreneurship promoting a culture of innovation and research amongst Oman’s young talent. This is an initiative that stands out for its unequivocal focus on transforming innovations into genuinely valuable and needed commercial products and services.”


Representing IPM at the signing ceremony was Dr AbdulBaqi Ali al Khabouri, Director of Science Parks. He said: “Through IPM, we look forward to providing Oman’s ambitious, innovative and talented entrepreneurs with the required tools to unlock their full potential and ensure a sustainable and successful future for these fledgling businesses.”


Signing for Riyada, was Khalid bin al Safi al Huraibi, the Acting Chief Executive of Riyada. He said: “There is certainly tremendous entrepreneurial spirit in the Sultanate but bringing an innovation to market and creating a sustainable business is a complicated process. Well-researched and thoroughly planned, this programme is a rigorous, motivating and realistic preparation for the commercial journey. Riyada is proud to lend its expertise to the participants and helping them take the necessary right first steps to ensure a sustainable success of their innovations.”


The agreement was also signed by Abdullah al Jufaili, General-Manager of Sharakah. He remarked: “Sharakah is proud to partner in this programme in order to develop new innovative and research-based renewable energy and water management start-ups in Oman. We are confident that the foundation and direction this programme provides will equip Oman’s young eco-entrepreneurs for both domestic and international success.”


An example to the Innovation Spur entrepreneurs, GlassPoint developed its own proprietary solar technology that’s been deployed on oilfields in California and the Middle East. Its unique technology harnesses the sun’s free and renewable energy to produce steam for heavy oil extraction.


Business Reporter -


MUSCAT, JAN 22 -


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