Arab World launches youth scientific research, invention competition

The Arab Science and Technology Foundation is organizing a competition for youth to relate their scientific research to the needs of Arab societies and economies. The competition includes inventions and researches in the field of desalination, renewable sources, agriculture, health, information technology and means of aiding people with special needs, said the foundation's deputy chairman Ghada Amer on Tuesday. Application forms to join the competition can be submitted from February 10th to March 30th for Arab youth of all nationalities, she noted. Meanwhile, Amer said that the event will be named after Professor Farouk El-Baz, the famous Egyptian American space scientist who worked with NASA, creating a role model for all youth. Winners of the first places will have a total of one million Egyptian pound worth of prizes, while providing them with intellectual property rights and patents for the first 10 winning topics, she said. Once the final results were announced, the foundation will work with both winners and investors of the same field to discuss bringing their inventions into markets. Professor El-Baz on his part said that the competition, patronized by Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi, aims to develop the abilities of Arab youth in contributing to their society's development, without the need for western technologies. He noted that the Arab World has so many resources that enables the countries to execute huge projects, which will improve the lives of citizens and increase the income. The Arab Science and Technology Foundation is an independent non-profit, regional and international organization. The body was established by a number of Arab and non-Arab scientists, along with representatives of different Arab and international scientific organizations.