Arab Youth Scientific Innovation:

“Stars of Science” TV Program–Qatar Foundation

“Youth Entrepreneurship Training” FGCCC

Fouad Mrad, Executive DirectorESCWA Technology Centre

Science Advisor to Program

Why do we need inventions and new products?

Improve quality of life – “useful”

Commercialization for economic benefit – profit !

Not every idea is an invention ! Needs to work.

Only 2 products out of every 3,000 ideas [16]

Not every invention is a product! Needs to be useful

Only 3,000 out of 1.5 million patents are

commercially viable [16]

Not done before ≠ Necessarily useful invention!

THE FIRST TELEVISED THE FIRST TELEVISED COMPETITION COMPETITION

TURNING IDEAS INTO TURNING IDEAS INTO INVENTIONS !INVENTIONS !

TV Program: STARS OF SCIENCE TV Program: STARS OF SCIENCE 33rdrd Season Since 2009 Season Since 2009

An Initiative by

Produced by

Opening new opportunities for the Arab new generation, Qatar Foundation launched a:

World Wide Arab Competition

In support of young inventors and innovators

This competition is under the form of a new original

Docu-Reality Television Program

The Concept

16 Inventors

Men and Women

Arab Speaking

Competing to create their invention The Winners go home with:$300 000 First Prize$150 000 Second $100 000 Third$ 50 000 Fourth

•Phase I

Professional Review by expert committee. The Committee will choose novel ideas

•Phase II

Invited for a recorded “face to face” pitch in front of a Jury in 8 casting Arab countries

•Phase III

16 Finalists are selected in Doha from all qualified Casting:

3 Months Intensive Workshop

Selection process

Criteria Guidance

1. Complexity

Possible to develop the novel idea into working invention prototype in 3 months?

2. Use What is the use of this product in the society?

3. Scientific correctnessIs the idea sound and respects scientific laws?

4. Patentability Novel: Can the intellectual property be protected ?

The Workshop Support

All labs in Qatari Universities

Professors and Technicians from Universities

Specially tailored seminars:

Safety in laboratories

Engineering Design Process

What is a successful entrepreneur?

Effective Teamwork

Business plans

others

Program Phases

1.Proof of Concept: validity of the novel scientific feature

2.Product Engineering: functioning product prototype embedding the proven concept

3.Product Design: packaged prototype towards a professional product

4.Business & Marketing: feasibility and marketability of the packaged product based on a business plan

8 Prime Time Episodes Broadcast 1. The development of projects 2. Work with experts 3. Invention coming to life4. EVALUATION / SCREENING

30 Daily episodes1- Allow viewers to know the 16 candidates2- Connect on an emotional level3- Daily struggles and achievements

Episodes

The Program

“Stars of Science” broadcast on Pan Arab television to More than 22 Arab countries with a viewer ship counting into tens of millions worldwide

Episode number in order of subject Number of Projects

#1 &2 Arab World Casting over 500

#3 Selection in Doha over 35

#4 Proof of concept 16

#5 Engineering 10 #6 Design 6 #7 Business & Marketing 5

#8 Launching Final 4

Supported skills of Participants

(a) Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering

(b) Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data

(c) Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability

(d) Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams (e) Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering

problems (f) Understanding of professional and ethical

responsibility

Participants Acquired Skills

(g) Ability to communicate effectively (h) Broad education necessary to understand the impact

of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context

(i) Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning

(j) Knowledge of contemporary issues (k) Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern

engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.(l) Ability to develop business plan for a scientific project The above supported outcomes (a through k) are suggested outcomes by:

Program Outcomes-2009 Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs

USA Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) programs www.abet.org

Impact Aims All Participants (thousands) learned

Winners learned and earned seed capital

Millions of viewers exposed to innovation process

Campaign in media/on line innovation culture

Networking Qatar Foundation with Arab Educational Institutions

Breaking wall of fear to invent and create

Arab Youth hope and courage to try and produce

Sample InventionsProjects Nationality Summary of Innovation Features

Dual TV using e-goggles Lebanon 2009 TV screen for watching 2 DVDs by users wearing e-goggles

Motorized portable musical string based Automatic tuner

Lebanon 2009 Hand held, automatic motorized, multiple oriental music instruments

Wireless Charging of Robot Crawler

Tunis 2011 Wireless transmission of energy to recharge crawler robot inside gas pipeline

Non invasive insulin for patients using US sensors

Jordan 2011 Using ultra sonic sensors for non invasive injection of insulin inside human body

Multi Purpose Automatic Oil Lab Tester

Kuwait 2010 Automatic sampling of oil for multiple station programmed Lab tester

Robotic Omni Joint Egypt 2010 A servo computer control 2 degrees of freedom robotic joint

Automated lifter and walker Saudi Arabia 2010

Automated lifter and scooter for people with difficulties to stand up and walk independently

Sample Projects 2009 [15]

Sample Projects 2010 [15]

Observations

Less than 10 % of participants were female in 3 Seasons

Arab youth are ICT users. Golden opportunity to leap to the future industry and economy

Educational preparation is failing to graduate product designers and entrepreneurs

Graduates lack basic design knowledge and business common sense

The participants lack team work skills and interest in working with or learning from others

Recommendations

Arabic media organizations cultivate its scientific

credibility in covering innovation stories

Local and regional authorities to improve the

credibility, professionalism, and transparency of

intellectual property registration systems

Develop university professors and lab staff skills in

product design and realization with industry and

technology suppliers

Recommendations (CONT)

The need to actively apply knowledge to real world problems

Translate R&D findings into a form understandable to all relevant audiences

Context specific, locally sensitive, and responsive to the evolving needs

Creation of new scientific information and technical capabilities is part of an experimental, social process

Integrate ‘formal’ R&D efforts with ‘informal’ grassroots knowledge and innovation

References:1. M. Rogers, “The Definition and Measurement of Innovation,” The University of Melbourne, Working

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Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, Vol 20, 20063. D. Straub, K. Loch, C. Hill, “Transfer of the Information Technology to the Arab World: A Test of Cultural

Influence Modeling,” Georgia State University, Journal of Global Information Management, 2001.4. D. McGlennon, “Building research capacity in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Strategy, funding

and engagement,” Second International Colloquium on Research and Higher Education Policy, UNESCO, Paris, 2006

5. F. Tabak, S. Barr, “Innovation Attributes and category membership: explaining intention to adopt technological innovations in strategic making contexts,” The Journal of High Technology Management Research, Volume 9, Number 1, 1998

6. J. Aubert, “Promoting Innovation in Developing Countries: A Conceptual framework,” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3554, 2005

7. B. Douthwaite, J. Keatinge, J. Park, “Why promising technologies fail: the neglected role of user innovation during adoption,” Research Policy Journal, Elsevier, Vol 30, 2001.

8. E. Rogers, “Diffusion of preventive innovations,” Journal of Addictive Behaviors, Pergamon, Vol 27, 2002.

9. J. Fagerberg* and B. Verspagen, “Innovation, growth and economic development: Why some countries succeed and others don’t,” GLOBELICS Conference: Innovation Systems and Development Strategies for the Third Millennium, Brazil, 2003

10. F. Mrad, "Meeting Arab Socio-Economic Development Needs Through Information and Communications Technologies," Journal of Transnational Management Development, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2006

11. Ibn Khalaf al-Muradi, “The Book of Secrets in the results of ideas 1266: Incredible Machines from 1000 years ago,” curators L Massimiliano, M Taddei, E Zaron, 2008.

12. “Arab Science: A Journey of Innovation,” www.qf.edu.qa , Qatar Foundation 200813. D. Baltimore, “A Global Perspective on Science and Technology,” Vol 322 Science,

www.sciencemag.org , 200814. United States Patent and Trademark office, www.uspto.gov 15. Qatar Foundation Stars of Science Program, ” www.starsofscience.som 200916. S. Raghu: Invention to Product: Processes and Timelines, Entrepreneurship Workshop Beirut, Lebanon

September, 2011