Al-Saqr for Technology and Innovation: Launch of a comprehensive project to incubate promising youth ideas soon
Dr. Saud Al-Anzi, Executive Director of the Hamad Abdulaziz Al-Qarar Center for Technology and Innovation, affirmed that the center prioritizes investing in youth and promising minds. He noted that the partnership with the Loyak Foundation has resulted in training a group of young people in entrepreneurship skills and app development, as part of an initiative aimed at empowering Kuwaiti youth and preparing them to venture into technology-based projects.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony for trainees of the “Al-Hafra” (The Pit) training program, organized by the center in collaboration with Loyak, Al-Anzi explained that the partnership between the Hamad Abdulaziz Al-Qarar Center for Technology and Innovation and the Loyak Foundation stemmed from a memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties. The initial phase of this cooperation yielded a five-week training program in which 12 trainees acquired a range of core skills before presenting their ideas and projects to a panel of judges. They received feedback and critiques, which they used to refine and develop their projects.
Al-Anzi clarified that the program’s concept simulates the real-world experience of establishing a company, introducing young people to the fears and challenges faced by small business owners and teaching them how to address these issues and find appropriate solutions. It also trains participants to answer judges’ questions, handle feedback, and cope with the possibility of failure. He emphasized that entrepreneurship requires strong skills and resilience from the outset.
Al-Anzi revealed the center’s plans to launch a comprehensive project in the future for young innovators, featuring significant challenges and aimed at nurturing promising ideas and developing them over a period ranging from six months to a year. He announced that details of the program would be released soon. He added that trainees would receive training courses within the center, alongside other programs in collaboration with partner institutions. There is also the potential to benefit from the expertise of universities and training institutions outside Kuwait, including in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
He stressed that the Hamad Abdulaziz Al-Qarar Center for Technology and Innovation is a non-profit organization, and its true investment lies in talented and aware young minds, with the goal of contributing to a better future for Kuwait. This is achieved by supporting innovators from the earliest stages, through training and idea development, project establishment, and up to the implementation phase.
Regarding artificial intelligence, Al-Anzi noted that the center is not limited to AI alone but also places significant emphasis on cybersecurity, considering both as key technological areas of focus. He pointed out that specialized programs in both fields will be announced soon. He explained that AI programs will range from simplified levels suitable for non-specialist users to advanced courses tailored for specialists and those seeking in-depth specialization. The same applies to cybersecurity programs, which will initially target corporate employees to enhance system protection, eventually extending to specialists in networks and cybersecurity, in collaboration with global companies specializing in the field.
For his part, Omar Al-Farsi, manager of the “Al-Hafra” training program at the Hamad Abdulaziz Al-Qarar Center for Technology and Innovation, stated that the program was part of a course organized by the center in partnership with the Loyak Foundation. The final stage featured a panel of judges evaluating four youth app projects: “Salhli,” “Matawafir,” “Jumma,” and “Rently.”
Al-Farsi highlighted that the participants’ level was promising, demonstrating clear seriousness and a strong awareness and capacity for learning and growth. He noted that the students’ questions and desire to learn more revealed a genuine interest in developing ideas. This interaction led to the introduction of developmental projects related to company establishment and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, which gave rise to the “Al-Hafra” program. The program’s title serves as a motivational concept, reflecting the idea of learning and acquiring skills by facing difficulties and challenges.
Expressing his pleasure at participating in the experience, Mohammed Al-Qattan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Association for Small and Medium Enterprises and a member of the judging panel, described it as a distinguished experience, particularly as it marked the first summer program organized by the Hamad Abdulaziz Al-Qarar Center for Technology and Innovation.
On the project “Salhli,” Khalid Al-Muwasharji, a member of the project team, explained that the concept connects users with specialized technicians for home repairs, leveraging artificial intelligence to store data on recorded faults. He clarified that the proposed system can utilize previous data to generate a report on the home’s condition, aiding in the handling, detection, and resolution of future faults using AI.
