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Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
QATAR Foundation’s (QF) popular edutainment reality TV show Stars of Science (SoS) has created a new generation of innovative Arab youth capable of adopting modern science and technology, said Dr Khaled al Ali, one of the jury members of the show.
In an interview, Dr Ali said that the programme, which is in its 11th year with a brand new format, has achieved widespread regional and international reach with several million regular viewers.
It has also helped Arab innovators to introduce their innovations to the world and assisted companies in getting these inventions into production and to market, he added.
SoS first aired in 2009 and has invited Arab investors between the ages of 18 to 35 from around the world. Dr Ali pointed out that the programme is the brainchild of Qatar Foundation whose vision is to support the Arab youth and help them reach the global potential they deserve.
It is also aimed at helping them contribute to developments in their home countries with the launch of their creative ideas in technology, manufacturing and information technology applications.
“The programme has some criteria for the participants since its inception. For example, every project should be a new idea that has not been implemented before. Also, it should not be some final research that has already reached the marketing stage. The project should be somewhere between the idea stage and research and implementation, so that the programme can show people completing their ideas, using the support, experience and know-how of our experts to work out the final invention, including assistance in programming and sourcing raw materials for the manufacturing phase,” said Dr Ali.
He added, “The programme has the lofty goal of cultivating a love of innovation among Arab youth and motivating them to help their own countries to develop and progress. Therefore, it allocates specific amounts of money to the winners, to support them in the process of developing their inventions. This is in addition to meeting the manufacturing cost of the first model of their projects, which may cost thousands of dollars.”
Dr Ali also underlined the vision of SoS for promoting the wealth of talent in the Arab world. He talked about the struggles and successes of the Arab youth joining the programme. He said that while many previous participants have gone back to their countries or other countries to complete work on their projects, others have enrolled in programmes offered by Qatar Science and Technology Park for the same.
“Qatar Foundation’s research, development and innovation efforts aim to build an innovative research and innovation system based on the empowerment of researchers and innovators. They learn about QF’s multi-faceted R&D systems and receive expert advice from QF institutions such as QSTP and other research centres,” he said.
DOHA
QATAR Foundation’s (QF) popular edutainment reality TV show Stars of Science (SoS) has created a new generation of innovative Arab youth capable of adopting modern science and technology, said Dr Khaled al Ali, one of the jury members of the show.
In an interview, Dr Ali said that the programme, which is in its 11th year with a brand new format, has achieved widespread regional and international reach with several million regular viewers.
It has also helped Arab innovators to introduce their innovations to the world and assisted companies in getting these inventions into production and to market, he added.
SoS first aired in 2009 and has invited Arab investors between the ages of 18 to 35 from around the world. Dr Ali pointed out that the programme is the brainchild of Qatar Foundation whose vision is to support the Arab youth and help them reach the global potential they deserve.
It is also aimed at helping them contribute to developments in their home countries with the launch of their creative ideas in technology, manufacturing and information technology applications.
“The programme has some criteria for the participants since its inception. For example, every project should be a new idea that has not been implemented before. Also, it should not be some final research that has already reached the marketing stage. The project should be somewhere between the idea stage and research and implementation, so that the programme can show people completing their ideas, using the support, experience and know-how of our experts to work out the final invention, including assistance in programming and sourcing raw materials for the manufacturing phase,” said Dr Ali.
He added, “The programme has the lofty goal of cultivating a love of innovation among Arab youth and motivating them to help their own countries to develop and progress. Therefore, it allocates specific amounts of money to the winners, to support them in the process of developing their inventions. This is in addition to meeting the manufacturing cost of the first model of their projects, which may cost thousands of dollars.”
Dr Ali also underlined the vision of SoS for promoting the wealth of talent in the Arab world. He talked about the struggles and successes of the Arab youth joining the programme. He said that while many previous participants have gone back to their countries or other countries to complete work on their projects, others have enrolled in programmes offered by Qatar Science and Technology Park for the same.
“Qatar Foundation’s research, development and innovation efforts aim to build an innovative research and innovation system based on the empowerment of researchers and innovators. They learn about QF’s multi-faceted R&D systems and receive expert advice from QF institutions such as QSTP and other research centres,” he said.
