Omani sets up engineering lab to help students to develop projects
Yumna Al Sharji and her colleague Bassl Koushak have set up the Atoms Lab as an integrated innovation hub which is available for use for a small fee
Times News Service
MUSCAT: A graduate from the Higher College of Engineering recently started a company for other engineers and students, helping them find equipment and to even develop their student projects into something special.
Yumna Al Sharji and her colleague Bassl Koushak began Atoms Labs during the summer of 2018 in order to provide students and engineers with facilities to work in, as well as an online shop to buy specific equipment.
“Atoms Labs is our startup for supporting students and entrepreneurs in building tech in the 4th industrial revolution era and we do that by providing three services.
“First is an online store for internet of things components that students and startups might need.
“Secondly, we have a lab with all equipment that students might need for electric and programming projects.
People can come and use the facility for a month for just OMR10.”
“Third is a service in which we help students decide on a project and implement it, in case they become stuck with one of the related aspects of their work. We charge them around OMR5 per hour for this third service,” she added.
The idea came to Al Sharji during her graduation from the Higher College of Education.
Idea is important
“I am very interested in the Internet of Things. With the number of ideas I have and the experience, I felt that I needed to share my experience with people and my advice for people is to follow their passion without worrying about the need for huge funds. You don’t need large amounts of money to begin something. What you need is an idea and a start.”