"Talent" Center: Five projects by Kuwaiti innovators in the "Idea Incubation 2026" journey advance to an international program in Spain

The Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Center for Talent and Creativity, one of the centers under the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), announced on Friday the conclusion of the “Incubating Ideas and Innovations in Food and Water Security 2026” program. Held in collaboration with Spain’s IE University, the program saw five projects by Kuwaiti innovators qualify for the international phase in Spain.

In a statement to KUNA, the center said the program aims to support holders of innovative ideas and projects in Kuwait, enabling them to develop innovative solutions that contribute to addressing challenges related to food and water security.

It added that the program attracted widespread participation from the moment registration opened. The center received 112 applications, from which 106 applicants who met the program’s conditions and requirements were selected to undertake a specialized training and development journey that ran from late June to the current month of September.

The center explained that the journey began with an in-person training week focused on equipping participants with the essential knowledge and skills needed to develop their ideas and projects. This was achieved through a series of training workshops and interactive sessions covering the development of innovative solutions, refining prototypes, and preparing the deliverables necessary to advance to the next stages of the program.

It noted that, based on the outputs of the first phase and the deliverables submitted by participants, 22 participants were selected to move on to the mentoring and guidance phase. This phase included specialized training programs delivered by local experts in collaboration with the Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Center for Talent and Creativity, alongside international training provided by experts from Spain’s IE University, with the aim of developing the projects and enhancing their readiness to progress to more advanced stages.

The center stated that the program’s journey concluded with a final in-person training week during the current month of September, focusing on project development, business model refinement, and preparation for final pitches. Participants presented their projects to an evaluation committee, and the final phase resulted in the selection of five projects qualified for the international program in Spain.

Regarding the results, the center reported that PADLOGIX, led by Abdulrahman Al-Farraj, took first place in the food security and agriculture field. MIRAGE, led by Ahmed Al-Mutairi, secured second place in the water and energy field. DATESHIELD, led by Abdulwahab Al-Mutairi, placed third in the food security field.

It added that LIFECUP, led by Maryam Jamali, ranked fourth in the water security field, while KUWAIT BSF, led by Ahmed Al-Salem, took fifth place in the food security and circular economy field.

The center noted that the five qualifiers are scheduled to move to the international program in Spain next month, October. They will have the opportunity to meet with experts and specialists in the sector and learn about the latest global trends and technologies in the fields of food and water. They will also participate in one of Europe’s leading specialized events in food technology, the Alimentaria FoodTech Summit.

It pointed out that this phase will provide participants with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience, familiarize themselves with global experiences and practices, and build a network of international professional relationships, thereby supporting the development of their projects and enhancing their readiness to advance to more advanced stages.

The Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Center for Talent and Creativity stated that the “Incubating Ideas and Innovations in Food and Water Security” program is part of the center’s efforts to support Kuwaiti talents and innovative capacities, and to provide quality opportunities that combine specialized training, mentoring, and international experience. This contributes to empowering participants to develop their ideas and transform them into viable projects and solutions in fields of strategic importance.

It added that the program reflects the center’s commitment to enhancing the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in finding solutions to future challenges in the food and water sectors, and to opening new horizons for Kuwaiti innovators to bring their ideas and projects into the global innovation ecosystem.