TONOMUS launches competition to find high-tech solutions for a billion people

Special TONOMUS launches competition to find high-tech solutions for a billion people
“We’re looking to recreate that here just like they did in Silicon Valley,” said Beverly Rider, CEO of TONOMUS Venture Studio. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Updated 12 February 2023

TONOMUS launches competition to find high-tech solutions for a billion people

TONOMUS launches competition to find high-tech solutions for a billion people
  • NEOM subsidiary seeks proposals in energy, food, mobility
  • Aim to foster global entrepreneurship, new ways of living

RIYADH: TONOMUS, the cognitive multinational subsidiary of NEOM, has announced the launch of its second venture startup competition at LEAP23 in Riyadh.

Led by the firm’s TONOMUS Venture Studio, the competition started on Feb. 6, and is titled “The Next Billion.” It is an initiative that invites participants to consider new technologies and innovations that a billion people in the world would require for energy, food and mobility.

“We’re looking to recreate that here just like they did in Silicon Valley,” said Beverly Rider, CEO of TONOMUS Venture Studio.

The aim is to foster global entrepreneurship that will nurture the environment and create new ways of community living.

Rider added: “TONOMUS Venture Studio has a bunch of different objectives. So it’s a programmatic display of how you bring entrepreneurship and startups to our region. So what we found when we got NEOM is that one of the things we were missing was an entrepreneurial ecosystem and the small businesses that really fuel the economy, and they take the large companies and create the value around them.”

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• NEOM subsidiary seeks proposals in energy, food, mobility.

• Aim to foster global entrepreneurship, new ways of living.

Rider said Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial vision and diversification of the economy stemming from Vision 2030 makes it an interesting hub prospect in the world.

“Come to the Kingdom? So actually, you would think that that would be the hard part, but that’s been our easy part. Everybody wants to come. The great thing about having a recession in the rest of the world is that people are really interested in looking into new horizons and new geographies. But more importantly than that, the megaprojects have given us an opportunity to basically, you know, start from the bottom and work our way up,” said Rider.

 

 

Up to 20 semifinalist teams will receive individualized coaching by experts from TONOMUS Venture Studio, and up to four winning teams will be invited to a 12-week program to incubate their ideas. The competition will welcome submissions until April 12, 2023.

Rider stressed that creating a community is key. “We asked people to come and talk to us about these solutions, their startup, or their ideas. So at about 100 people showed up yesterday. We’re going to do six more of them next year.”

TONOMUS Venture Studio comprises both established and emerging entrepreneurs. It aims to cement NEOM’s reputation as the epicenter of innovation, and the Kingdom as a place where the world’s brightest minds and top tech talent can bring their ideas to life.
 


Saudi Arabia, Syria in talks to resume consular services: Al-Ekhbariya TV

Saudi Arabia, Syria in talks to resume consular services: Al-Ekhbariya TV
Updated 12 sec ago

Saudi Arabia, Syria in talks to resume consular services: Al-Ekhbariya TV

Saudi Arabia, Syria in talks to resume consular services: Al-Ekhbariya TV

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Syria are in talks to resume consular services between the two countries, Al-Ekhbariya TV said on Thursday.

More to follow...


Prince Khalid honors air cadets at ceremony in Riyadh

Prince Khalid honors air cadets at ceremony in Riyadh
Updated 23 March 2023

Prince Khalid honors air cadets at ceremony in Riyadh

Prince Khalid honors air cadets at ceremony in Riyadh
  • Several other senior officials attended the ceremony

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense Prince Khalid bin Salman attended the graduation ceremony of the 102nd batch of King Faisal Air Academy in Riyadh on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Khalid was received by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Lieutenant-General Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, as well as the Commander of the King Faisal Air Academy, Major General Pilot Hazim bin Abdulrahman bin Ghashyan.

Several other senior officials attended the ceremony, where Prince Khalid honored the cadets.


King Salman, Crown Prince congratulate President Arif Alvi on Pakistan national day

King Salman, Crown Prince congratulate President Arif Alvi on Pakistan national day
Updated 23 March 2023

King Salman, Crown Prince congratulate President Arif Alvi on Pakistan national day

King Salman, Crown Prince congratulate President Arif Alvi on Pakistan national day

RIYADH: King Salman sent a cable of congratulations to President Arif Alvi of Pakistan on Thursday on the anniversary of his country’s National Day.

The king expressed his best wishes for the president’s good health and happiness, and for the government and people of Pakistan steady progress and prosperity.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also congratulated President Alvi on the Pakistani national day, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. 

During their phone call, they reviewed the strong relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance them to serve common interests.

 

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The registration is to be made through the Nusuk application, and it will end when the permitted number is completed, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
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Ithra to host sixth annual ‘Cultural Majlis’ this Ramadan

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Updated 23 March 2023

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Ithra to host sixth annual ‘Cultural Majlis’ this Ramadan

DHAHRAN: The Cultural Oasis at Ithra will host its sixth annual “Cultural Majlis” during Ramadan.

Three different panel discussions will be held on March 27, April 3 and April 10 under the theme of “Travel Literature.”

In a statement, Ithra said that it hopes to help modern travelers become acquainted with carvings and newly discovered monuments by hosting a group of specialists in panel discussions.

Talks will be in Arabic, and will target those interested in Arabic literature and over the age of 16.

Guest speakers will delve into classic and contemporary travel literature, showing how travelers have represented their adventures and discoveries through stories.

The first session will feature Syrian author and poet Nouri Al-Jarrah, superintendent of the Ibn Battuta Award for Travel Literature Abdullah Al-Khudayyer, and Moroccan novelist Shuaib Halifi.

This will be followed by the book signings of “The Stone Serpent” by Al-Jarrah, “Estrangement with the Taste of Karthala” by Al-Khudayyer, and “Travels That Don’t Fear Imagination” by Halifi.

The second panel discussion will feature travelers Thawab Alsubaie and Saud Al-Eidie, along with travel photographer Hussain Daghriri. The three will discuss different approaches to travel under the title “Memory of a Place.”

In the third session, author and historian Sulaiman Al-Theeb and researcher of history and civilization Mishari Al-Nashmi will be interviewed by author and journalist Ali Zaalah under the title “Tales of Cities: Legacy and Heritage.”

Visitors will also have a special guided tour of the Hijrah Exhibit, where they will see the migration journey of the Prophet Muhammad from a modern perspective. Entry will be free.

The Cultural Majlis is a complimentary event. Tickets are not required to attend the book signings, and signed books will be distributed free of charge. Also, tickets are not required to enter the panel discussion. A free photography event will also be hosted in conjunction with the talks.

Panel discussions run from 10 p.m. until midnight.