Saudi Arabia’s KAUST launches second ‘challenge’ competition

JEDDAH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on Monday launched a new international competition, in partnership with Asbar World Forum, called “Shaping the Future of Media.”
This year’s challenge is about bringing innovative solutions to pressing problems facing the media system and developing the Kingdom’s culture and entertainment sectors.
The latest KAUST Challenge follows the success of the competition’s inauguration last year, to crowdsource ideas for Hajj and Umrah. Participants can submit their proposals between June 10 and Aug. 1 across 13 themes.
Dr. Najah Ashry, KAUST’s vice president and senior associate to the president, said the development of an active media sector was an urgent need for the Kingdom and the world.
“The KAUST Challenge competition aims to encourage local and international talent to find ideas, and solutions that help advance the country’s national priorities,” said Dr. Fahad Al-Orabi Al-Harthi, president of the Asbar World Forum.
Web developer and cybersecurity expert from Jeddah, Aisha Abdullatif, said she was interested in data privacy and security systems.
“Such competitions contribute greatly to attracting individuals and companies looking for a good opportunity to examine their ideas in a highly competitive atmosphere,” she told Arab News.
Abdul-Qayum Ahmad, an IT expert from Jeddah, said that such initiatives offered by a “world-class university” played an important role in encouraging local talent to develop new ideas.
Experts will evaluate all valid applications, shortlisting the most innovative solutions. These will be further reviewed by an expert committee and 30 finalists will be chosen. A committee comprising regional and international media leaders will pick the grand winner before Sept. 5.
The winning proposal will receive a cash prize of SR300,000 ($80,000) at a special award ceremony scheduled for late September.