The enthusiasm of the participants, mostly young Saudis, was evident as the hall was packed well before the event started. They interacted with the speakers who came to share their experiences in innovation.

In all, 20 young innovators from various industries were chosen to share the experiences with a 1,000-strong audience.

Muhannad Abu Diya, who was the first to speak, recounted how he faced challenges while going through his journey in innovation, most notably because he is blind and walks with the help of a stick.

The 23-year-old Saudi inventor believes that “ideas are gold.” He has already written a number of books on innovation and has trained hundreds in innovation. He said his dream was to see one billion Muslim inventors from around the world.

Abu Diya questioned why the inventions of local people do not reach the market and called on beginners to ensure that they present their products with confidence in order to convince businessmen.

Mansour Al-Badran, 18, spoke about his experience in film production.

Al-Badran is the youngest filmmaker in the Kingdom and the youngest to win an award in film-making from the United Nations after he participated in a citizen ambassador competition that made a mark in his life. His film, titled “Let’s Help Each Other", was adjudged the best film for its portrayal of poverty and starvation.

Al-Badran’s first experience in film-making started when he participated in a film festival in Jeddah. He would address issues that concern people of his age in the Kingdom.

His films addressed such issues as a lack of English-language skills among Saudi youth. Another of his films revolves around the problems young men face in the Kingdom when they attempt to enter areas reserved for families.

Ahmad Al-Ghazi, the inventor of Goom (Stand Up), a machine for people who need assistance with standing upright, also spoke about his invention. During the time in which Al-Ghazi and his friends were working on their project they where faced with criticism and were attacked by people whom he described as “depressing individuals.”

Al-Ghazi has developed, with the help of other colleagues, a machine that can help make the handicapped more independent. The machine has a chair and two hand holders and can move on its wheels while the person is standing.

Goom, said Al-Ghazi, will be soon available in the market and he is hoping it will help millions of people around the world.