Dubai Future Foundation and Haykal Media invited the 10 finalists for the Innovators Under 35 program, to pitch their innovative ideas to over 500 participants at the EmTech MENA conference held in Dubai.
Dubai is quickly growing into a regional and global address for youth and innovation, with a strong focus on sectors that affect the future of humanity. EmTech MENA and “IU35” are both aligned with the vision of Dubai in supporting and collaborating with regional and global partners in propelling into the future through ideation, innovation and inspiration.
The global program, first inaugurated in1999 by MIT Technology Review, the leading publication for technology, selects young innovators for developing cutting edge inventions that aid in the development of new and emerging in support strategic sectors. For the first time in MENA,the Foundation, and Haykal Media have selected 10 young minds from the Middle East and North Africa region, to present their ideas in a three-minute pitch to government ministers, business leaders and decision makers for their invention to be implemented.
Out of 400 candidates that applied, the 10 participants have been awarded from across the region and include Tuka Al Hanai, UAE, Essa Basaeed, UAE, Monther Abu Rameileh Jordan, Amad Al Masaodi Yemen, Marwan Abou Dib, Lebanon, Sadeem Al Marri Saudi Arabia, Abdul Mohsen Al Husseini, Jordan, Firas Khaliefeh, Syria and Derya Baran, Turkish resident of Saudi Arabia.
Representing diverse backgrounds, the participants’ innovative work span sectors like biomedicine, computing, communications, energy, software development, to critical infrastructure the web and internet; all of which are significantly contributing to building smarter and more agile communities.
The selection criteria for the program included a panel of judges- experts in different fields- assessing the candidates representing current trends in technology. Researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators from universities and research centers, start-ups, SMEs, corporations, and non-profit organizations were encouraged to participate in this program.
