NBC hosts major innovation forum
Times News Service
MUSCAT: The National Business Centre (NBC), which is an initiative by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), on Sunday, hosted a workshop on “Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Ideation”.
The event featured Prof. Richard Filley who serves as lead social entrepreneurship faculty at the “Technology Entrepreneurship and Management” (TEM) programme at The Poly School within the Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU).
The workshop’s two sessions highlighted social entrepreneurship and how young people can change the world and make it better, and innovation and ideation and how entrepreneurs can find new ideas that make a difference. About You), been a part of a team of inventors developing new patented products (Mountain Safety Research), been an entrepreneur creating new programmes at ASU, and mentoring and launching new social entrepreneurship ventures.
Filley was recognised with an honourable mention at the global 2012 Dell Social Innovation Education Awards, given for commitment to supporting and mentoring students involved in developing innovative solutions to social problems, fostering creativity in classroom teaching methods and dedication to building institutional support for social innovation education.
Filley explained at the workshop that everything is possible with the current generation and their knowledge of technology. He elaborated that according to Digital Trends, around 70 per cent of the world’s population will use a smartphone by 2020.
“With this kind of available technology power, there are plenty of opportunities for the young generation to expand their own businesses and assist others around the world,” he noted.
Filley and the workshop’s participants then toured the National Business Centre, which is an initiative launched by Madayn at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat with the aim of offering promising Omani entrepreneurs a platform to develop their business ideas and advance them into growing ventures.