Ebtikar, a first of its kind in Bahrain, aims at developing a dedicated platform to support an innovation-driven society has been formally launched at a glittering evening at Capital Club Bahrain under the patronage of the Minister of Transportation and Acting CEO of Bahrain Economic Development Board, Kamal Ahmed, Ebtikar Association.
The Association, through local networking and international collaboration, will act to mobilize resources, foster best practice, and be a force of proposition in the field of innovation.
Ebtikar had a pleasure to host Dr. Abdulla A.Al Najjar, President of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), the largest non-profit scientific foundation in the Arab world.
During the launch event, guest speaker Dr. Jean-Christophe Baillie, Chief Science Officer of the French company Aldebaran Robotics. Dr. Baillie shared his fascinating journey into the emerging world of personal robotics. Members of the audience were introduced to Aldebaran’s robot, NAO, and the diversity of applications of such technological innovations.
“I am very pleased that such an initiative is taking place in Bahrain. Ebtikar is a necessary addition to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and it will facilitate Bahrain’s transition into a knowledge-based economy,” Kamal Ahmed, said.
“ASTF is delighted to be invited to the launch event of Ebtikar which we are supporting since its concept stage, and we look forward to collaborating with this natural partner in Bahrain to help innovation flourish in the Arab world,” Dr. Abdulla A.Al Najjar, the ASTF President, said.
“Ebtikar is a catalyst for innovation in Bahrain – a crossroads of ideas, innovators, and investors. Many enablers from the public and private sectors already support entrepreneurship and innovation in Bahrain, and Ebtikar will be a platform to channel and develop these efforts. In today’s world, innovation is a major driver behind the creation of businesses, particularly SME’s, the creation of job opportunities and the enhancement of efficiency. Ultimately, Ebtikar aims to stimulate economic and social growth and translate it into sustainable business and to further economic prosperity,” Ebtikar President, Osama Al Khaja, said.
The association’s Founders are an eclectic group from both the government and the private sector, who include industrialists, businessmen, financiers and educationalists; they all share the common passion of unleashing the innovation potential of Bahrain and beyond.
Like-minded members from all sectors of the economy are welcome to join the Association: entrepreneurs, investors, sponsors, inventors, owners and managers of enterprises of all sizes, as well as strategic thinkers and researchers. Ebtikar will host networking events where innovation-related topics will be profiled by regional and global innovators and leading industrial entrepreneurs to encourage new applications and stimulate the exchange of ideas and business development.
The launch was attended by senior members of the public and private sectors as well as Bahraini innovators and entrepreneurs.