100 TO 1,000 INNOVATION CENTRE’S NEW TRAINING TARGET

The Industrial Innovation Centre plans to train 1,000 Omani job-seekers on innovation, especially new ideas, on business or other projects, said Ahmed bin Hassan al Dheeb, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. They will be trained in phases.

A part of the Public Establishment of Industrial Estates (Madayn), the centre is currently training 100 job-seekers. It has already finished training 100 people.

The centre’s task is to encourage innovative ideas, especially in the manufacturing sector, besides assisting the manufacturing sector in transferring new technology for enhancing productivity.

The Industrial Innovation Centre, currently located at Rusayl

Industrial Estate, will move to Knowledge Oasis Muscat once the new building is ready. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is working with the University of Sohar as part of the Tanfeedh.

“We are working with the University of Sohar to establish a professional Product Design Centre, which will function as a prototype facility as well as advance manufacturing workshop,” said Al Dheeb. “If an individual/ company has a new idea, they can come to the centre and see how their product will ultimately look like. This is where they can analyse and add a new dimension to the product.” According to him, the centre aims at producing quality products in Oman and “reducing dependence on products from outside the country”. The ministry registers all forms of innovation in manufacturing, information technology and other services. A centre has always been there, but it has been named Industrial Innovation Centre with a renewed focus.