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Academics, high school students and key industry executives came together to celebrate the successful completion of INJAZ Tech Valley 2019.
The students, who went through an intensive three-week programme, supported by Tamkeen, learned about a spectrum of trending topics in digital transformation, including FinTech, blockchain, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, loud computing and cybersecurity.
It concluded with a team hackathon, in collaboration with Brinc Batelco, to apply skills learned to Bahraini case studies where students worked with local businesses to develop solutions tailored to their needs.
Dr Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi, Tamkeen’s chief executive, said: “We believe that the youth form the backbone of an innovative and diverse economy in any country and allow for sustainable human development. For that reason, Tamkeen spared no efforts in launching and fostering initiatives that fulfil this strategic aim.”
Each team participated in one of three sectors: Industrial, Telecommunication and Banking and Finance Sector and the winners were awarded BD1,000 per team.
Before the winners were announced, Pakiza Abdulrahman, Bahrain Economic Development Board’s (EDB) business development manager for start-ups, said: “As judges, we were impressed by the quality of the products we saw and the entrepreneurial spirit we witnessed. We hope to see these students and their peers become industry titans in the years to come.”
In the Industrial sector, Team 2 2 2, with members Abdulla Yasser, Fadhel Alafoo, Abdulaziz Abdulla, Fatima Buqais, Fatima Al Kooheji, Mariam Kamashki and Raed Bucheeri, stole the spotlight with their product POR2GAS, aimed at minimising accidents and providing quick support in the oil and gas industry.
In the telecommunication sector, winning team Injaz Tech, with members Daneal Alhashimi, Fatema Alsheno, Mohammed Shamtoot, Muneera Abdulla, Shaikha Buhaimed, Yusuf Alsekri and Nafeesa Abdulla, created NOWARMOR, a solution integrating a hashing algorithm, artificial neural networks, two-factor authentication and block chain encryption to solve cybercrimes through public Wi-Fi.
In the banking and finance sector, winning team Alpha, comprising Ahmed Al Mutawa, Fajer Al Thawadi, Fatima Zowayed, Latifa Alemadi, Bayan Alsayed and Samana Mohammed, designed a solution implementing blockchain to ensure safety and security for every online transaction.
Every member of each of the winning teams was offered four-week internships at GPIC, Batelco and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) respectively.
Marwa Aleskafi, program manager at Brinc, said: “It’s very impressive that high school students came up with the business concepts we saw. The quality was a testament to the three week program that they have gone through and we are excited to see what is in store for the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
The competition was conducted in partnership with a wide range of organisations including industry partners like GPIC, Batelco, BBK, strategic partners like Tamkeen and BIBF, and support partners like Brinc, Ministry of Education and EDB.
Every student was lauded as a winner, and in line with that, Dr Abdulrahman Hussain Jawahery, GPIC’s CEO announced an award of BD500 for each non-winning team.
Hana Sarwani, the executive director of INJAZ Bahrain, said: “At INJAZ Bahrain, we are preparing students to enter the labour market, providing them with the skills and tools to cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit. INJAZ will always be committed to guiding students with knowledgeable programs and creative workshops.”
