The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation concluded the 'Falling Walls Lab Oman' competition on Tuesday, marking its ninth consecutive edition.
The winners' announcement ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Research and Innovation.
The competition aimed to showcase the talents of the next generation of researchers in Oman, offering them a platform to present their ideas and innovations. It provides an opportunity for young people to connect with the community, link emerging talents with seasoned creators and foster interdisciplinary dialogue and international collaboration. The goal is to discover and develop outstanding researchers and build strong, sustainable networks.
Ibrahim al Balushi, Head of the Competitions and Awards Department of Research and Innovation Capacity Building at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, noted that this year's competition saw 62 submissions across various fields including health, environment, technology, artificial intelligence and humanities. From these, 20 ideas and projects advanced to the final stage.
Tasnim al Daoudi won first place for her project "Heavy Oil Reduction Using Green Energy". She expressed her excitement about representing Oman in Berlin and anticipates that her project aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which aims to support innovation and find alternative solutions, especially in renewable energy and the hydrogen sector.
Second place went to Al Waleed al Maharbi for his project "Wax Deposition in Pipeline Systems". He expressed happiness at making it to the finals and explained that his project addresses the problem of wax deposits in pipelines using ultrasonic waves, offering an eco-friendly and energy-efficient solution.
Samiya al Riyami secured third place with her project "Sustainable Water Filter", which is an eco-friendly, clay-based filter designed to reduce plastic water bottles and traditional filters. She plans to establish a company that will be the first in Oman to produce water filter membranes.
The top two participants will have the chance to compete in the Falling Walls Lab finals in Berlin on November 8, and attend the Falling Walls Conference on November 9, 2024, where leading scientists will present their latest achievements. The third-place winner will receive a monetary prize.
The ideas and projects were evaluated by a panel of six experts from academia, research institutions and the business community, including Dr Khalid bin Abdul Wahab al Balushi, Dr Talib Muhieuddin Ghulam, Dr Thamara al Ghafri, Najah al Ghafri, Abdullah al Shuhi and Dr Jamila al Hinai.
Dr Khalid al Balushi, a jury member, explained that the evaluation criteria included the uniqueness and applicability of the idea or invention, its economic benefits, and the participants' ability to present and articulate their projects clearly in English.
These factors are crucial for effectively representing Oman on the Berlin global stage.
Dr Al Haddabi said, "The idea of the competition is to present a research project concept within a time limit of only three minutes per participant and to persuade the judging panel that this idea has value in breaking through a barrier. The name of the competition is derived from the Berlin Wall, symbolising a global challenge that needs to be overcome. The topics of the competition have varied, and we are pleased with this diversity of ideas." He highlighted that the ideas presented, whether winning or not, have the potential to make significant impacts, including gaining patents or attracting investors, and showcasing Oman's innovation on an international platform.
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