Transcript Main Title - Lebanese University

Arab Youth Scientific Innovation:
“Stars of Science” TV Program–Qatar Foundation
“Youth Entrepreneurship Training” FGCCC
Fouad Mrad, Executive Director
ESCWA 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
commercially viable [16]
 Not done before ≠ Necessarily useful invention!
are
THE FIRST TELEVISED
COMPETITION
TURNING IDEAS INTO
INVENTIONS !
TV Program: STARS OF SCIENCE
3rd 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
Selection process
•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
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 correctness
Is 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
Universities
and
Technicians
from
 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
Episodes
8 Prime Time Episodes Broadcast
1. The development of projects
2. Work with experts
3. Invention coming to life
4. EVALUATION / SCREENING
30 Daily episodes
1- Allow viewers to know the 16 candidates
2- Connect on an emotional level
3- Daily struggles and achievements
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
#6 Design
#7 Business & Marketing
10
6
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 Inventions
Projects
Nationality
Summary of Innovation Features
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
Robotic Omni Joint
Egypt 2010
Automatic sampling of oil for
multiple station programmed Lab
tester
A servo computer control 2 degrees
of freedom robotic joint
Automated lifter and walker
Saudi
2010
Dual TV
using e-goggles
Arabia 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
credibility,
regional
authorities
professionalism,
and
to
improve
transparency
the
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
grassroots knowledge and innovation
‘informal’
References:
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16.
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