December 12, 2013
Stars of Science Inspires 28,000 Young Arab Innovators
As the “edutainment reality” TV program Stars of Science prepares for its sixth season, the program’s creator, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (Q…
As the “edutainment reality” TV program Stars of
Science prepares for its sixth season, the program’s creator, Qatar
Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has revealed
that a total of 28,000 young Arabs were inspired to submit
their inventions over the first five seasons.
Launched
in 2009, Stars of Science was designed as a platform for the
next generation of Arab innovators to develop its capacities in science and
technology.
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| Season 1 Winner, Bassam Jalgha from Lebanon |
Of the
28,000 applicants, 80 of the most talented and entrepreneurial
spirits were selected to participate in the TV program, and were supported by
an international team of experts in developing their projects from concept
to commercialization.
His
Excellency Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Ph.D., President of Hamad bin
Khalifa University commented: “Through Stars of Science, we are
empowering some of the brightest minds in the Arab world to innovate and to
create. Looking back over the past five seasons, I am proud to say that the
program has succeeded in becoming an incubator of science and technology,
providing a platform for young people to develop their expertise in the field
of science while highlighting the region’s commitment to innovation.”
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| Stars of Science Season 2 finalists |
A total
of 61 patents have been filed by the 80 candidates across the
Middle East, from Mauritania to Iraq, and 16 companies have
been established by the program’s alumni. Stars of Science is
the only program in the region that offers young Arab inventors an opportunity
to see their products come to life. It also enables people from a variety of
academic and professional backgrounds to contribute to the creation of new
Middle Eastern compnies every year.
 |
| Stars of Science Season 3 finalists |
In
addition to the ongoing support of the internationally renowned experts who are
the program’s judges, the 18 winners of the past five seasons have
won cash prizes to develop their products ranging from $50,000 to $300,000, and
totaling $3,000,000. Their accomplishments can now be witnessed around the
world thanks to their participation in Stars of Science.
The
program has more than 1,000,000 million Facebook fans, 43,000 Twitter
followers, over 1,500,000 unique website visitors and more than 2,000,000
YouTube viewers.
Stars of Science will be back on air in 2014 with some
exciting updates to the show’s format. For additional information, log on to: www.starsofscience.com.
- 28,000 applications received from eight countries during five seasons of Stars of Science program
- 80 inventors selected to compete in past five seasons
- 61 patents filed by Stars of Science candidates since launch of program
- 16 Middle Eastern companies established in the region to date by Stars of Science alumni
- 18 young Arab inventors won prizes ranging from $50,000 to $300,000 totaling a combined $3,000,000
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| Stars of Science Season 4 Finalists |
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| Stars of Science Season 5 finalists |
Bassam Jalgha
Doha
entrepreneurship