3 Saudi projects in Intel contest final

Three projects from Saudi Arabia reached the finals of the 2013 Intel Middle East and North Africa Business Challenge held at the Westin Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The projects covered such areas as real estate, science and medicine, and included an innovative real estate website, a project based on energy wave frequencies and another one measuring the level of blood sugar.
The contestants demonstrated their submissions before a huge audience at the function.
The submissions will also be demonstrated before a group of businessmen and investors in October. They have an opportunity to win cash prizes of up to $ 100,000.
Projects that reached the IBC finals included, besides three from Saudi Arabia, six from Egypt, three from Palestine, four from the United Arab Emirates, two each from Tunisia and Jordan, and one each from Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon and Oman.
“Contests of this kind are fundamental to human capital development, which is considered part of Abu Dhabi’s vision for the year 2030. It also requires the presence of strong educational establishments and continuous support and direction,” said Director General of ADEC Mugheer Al-Khaili.
Director General of Intel MENA Region Taha Khalifa said that turning new ideas into realities on the ground requires developing inventions that go beyond mere technology to reach the level of employing them in an ideal manner to lift the levels of learning and educational inventions.
“It is within this framework that Intel Corporation invests in science education, mathematics, technology and engineering, global contests in these fields and thus helps change the lives of millions and encourages inventors and men of ideas that lead us to a better future,” Khalifa said.
He added: “We collaborate with government departments, local communities and schools around the world to provide resources and solutions needed to improve their educational levels and to translate their visions to tangible realities. We help to provide quality education to the largest number of people so that the development of local communities and economies continues uninterrupted. This is our way of motivating the generation of new waves of ideas and works.”
He said the Intel initiative seeks to contribute to entrepreneurial activities by triggering interest in the development of business technology projects. With technology initiatives, this competition will offer support to projects that create productivity and employment opportunities.
Young entrepreneurs and innovative project developers from universities in the MENA region participated in the Intel Business Challenge (IBC) competition this year. They focused on fostering a spirit of entrepreneurial pioneering and advancing innovation to address global challenges and be able to provide individuals the opportunity to obtain the skills, technology and resources they need to build successful businesses that drive innovation, create employment, accelerate economic growth and have a positive impact on society.
More than 2,300 participants from 14 Arab countries attended the free training workshops in Arabic, English and French organized in various Arab countries. The last workshop was held at the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) on June 12.