Industrial creativity: Top marks for KACST’s Badir program

As part of the government's plan to encourage creativity in all fields, including industry, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has awarded the Badir program of King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) the top slot in the Industrial Creativity Award.
A cash award of SR 500,000 was given to Moqbel Al-Khalaf for his innovative project that will make use of the remnants of palm recyclers and turn them into high quality coal for multiple use.
It is the first of its kind agro-based product in the Kingdom and also the region.
The project involves recycling the remnants of palm and turning them into coal for community use. Currently, these leftovers are dumped indiscriminately leading to environmental pollution.
The project will now create a market for remnants of the palm, besides preserving the environment.
Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah presented the award to Al-Khalaf at a high-profile ceremony organized by the Industrial Cities and Technology Zones Cities that aims to develop the Saudi industrial sectors and stimulate innovative spirit in the Kingdom.
It will also encourage ideas that have the potential of creating industrial opportunities.
The awards presentation ceremony held here was attended by a large number of officials, partners and sponsors of the award.
"This award would be an incentive for me and other Saudi youth to achieve further growth and success of the project," said Al-Khalaf.
This will be one of the leading industrial achievements in the Kingdom.
This will have advantages, facilities and incentives that will add value to the advancement of innovative industrial projects in the Kingdom, he said.
He also underscored KACST's support in the implementation of this ambitious project.
"This is a major achievement of the program initiative, especially that this achievement came in accordance with the standards of the most comprehensive and accurate manner," said Nawaf Al-Sahaf, executive director of the Badir program.
He said the project is one of the outstanding works, which has been able to achieve outstanding successes in a short period of time.
He said the program encourages all Saudi leaders and entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas in technology and help them turn their ideas into technology projects and commercial successes.
He pointed out that this will contribute to strengthening the process of the national economy, and create more job opportunities for the sons and daughters of the nation.
This is in line with the vision of KACST to encourage young Saudi nationals to a culture of self-employment, and contribute to the preparation of a distinct generation of technology entrepreneurs in the Kingdom.