Young inventors on government’s role in aiding innovation
dubai – Find a bigger cause to innovate, don’t innovate just for yourself. Innovate for your country, innovate for a problem you face – Innovate for a bigger goal than just yourself,” said Fatima Al Kaabi, the 15-year old Emirati inventor, when asked about the fundamental factor that inspires her to innovate.
Al Kaabi’s comments came at a panel discussion moderated by Emirati presenter Omar Butti titled ‘Innovation Belongs to Our Youth’, where she was joined by 17-year old Los Angeles-based software and app developer, Thomas Suarez.
The discussion presented by Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company (Du) began with an audio visual message by the company chairman, Ahmad Bin Byatt, talking about the role of the youth in driving innovation. It explored themes of youth’s role in driving innovation, the importance of a supportive environment that facilitates innovation, how collaboration aids innovation and the role of the government and leadership in enabling innovation.
On about the role of the government in building an enabling environment, Al Kaabi praised the initiatives by the ministry of youth in tapping into the youth’s areas of interests and talent to create a platform that engages them and helps them serve the nation.
When asked to share a message to inspire other young inventors, Suarez said: “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish something. The cliché ‘never give up’ is very true.”
Thomas Suarez started software programming early in his childhood and became a TEDx speaker at age 12, when he invented the hugely popular mobile app ‘Bustin Jieber’. He describes software development as a combination of art, math and logic, and his other notable inventions include the Orb 3D printer which he developed after getting frustrated with his own 3D printer. Al Kaabi, a 15-year old Sharjah resident, spoke at TEDx Youth when she was 13 years old. She carries a screwdriver in her bag in case of any emergency, and switched schools when she first started inventing, to find a more supportive ecosystem. Recipients of several regional and local awards, Al Kaabi has invented a Braille printer, an Emirati Robot and a Robot Photographer.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish something. The cliche ‘never give up’ is very true.” Thomas Suarez, Teen inventor