Latest news with #SaifbinAbdullahalHaddabi
Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Meeting looks at enhancing Oman's performance in Global Innovation Index
MUSCAT: The National Team in charge of enhancing the performance of the Sultanate of Oman in the Global Innovation Index held its twenty-first meeting under the chairmanship of Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Research and Innovation, Head of the National Team for the Global Innovation Index. The meeting reviewed the outcomes and recommendations of a working session on the International Policy Indicators Simulation System for policymakers in the Arab region. Organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the session discussed the mechanisms of simulation and methodologies on analysing the indicators proposed during the session. The protocols included means to measure gaps and formulate scenarios on enhancing Oman's performance in the Global Innovation Index. The meeting also reviewed the progress made in preparing a medium-term plan and procedural steps to support the team tasked with policies and initiatives and the data management team. The Global Innovation Index team stems from the National Competitiveness Committee. It is entrusted with improving the Sultanate of Oman's performance in the Global Innovation Index by implementing an integrated approach to unify national efforts and engage stakeholders in the national innovation system. - ONA
Observer
02-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman exerts efforts to support innovation
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is making dedicated efforts to support research and innovation, which has positively reflected in its advancement by 10 positions in the Global Innovation Index (GII) issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over four years — rising from 84th to 74th place. Additionally, Oman improved its ranking in innovation outputs by 23 spots, moving from 109th to 86th. Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Research and Innovation, affirmed that the recent commendation by the World Bank for Oman Vision 2040 — which places significant emphasis on human capital development, education quality enhancement, and fostering a culture of research and innovation — reflects the concerted efforts of all relevant stakeholders working diligently to achieve the vision's goals. He explained that the innovation index is one of the most critical indicators as it influences competitiveness and other key metrics. The index is measured by WIPO, drawing data from the World Bank, Unesco and 13 other global institutions. At the national level, he noted, the index is measured through infrastructure and digital framework programmes. This includes research centres such as the Muscat Innovation Complex as an established infrastructure, as well as Oman Research and Education Network, which covers nearly 99% of institutions and connects all universities and colleges in Oman, offering over 23 services. He highlighted the development of digital infrastructure through Oman Research Portal, an integrated digital platform managing research programmes — evaluating, funding and tracking their performance. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a research equipment platform cataloguing and classifying research tools used by academics, industrial institutions and other stakeholders. - ONA
Observer
04-05-2025
- Science
- Observer
Environment Authority announces hackathon winners
SUHAR: The Environment Authority on Sunday announced the winners of the Environmental Excellence Hackathon in Al Batinah North Governorate. The hackathon saw wide participation from innovative youth and technology enthusiasts across Oman over a two-day period. The event 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, and in the presence of Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority. The project "Naqa for Active Carbon" secured first place, while "Stark" came in second and "Bio Power" took third place. Nizar bin Salem Al Fannah al Araimi, Director of the Environment Department in Al Batinah North, stated that the hackathon aimed to develop creative and technological solutions for environmental challenges, support and encourage youth and developers in the environmental field, and promote innovations to create smart solutions, platforms and applications to address environmental issues. He highlighted that the event attracted top programmers, leading companies, job-seekers and postgraduate students. Al Araimi explained that the hackathon addressed several environmental challenges, such as coastal erosion, climate change, cyclones, rising temperatures, invasive birds and plants, wildlife encroachment, desertification and overgrazing. The closing ceremony featured the launch of the "Masar" platform, designed to track performance indicators for environmental management staff in Al Batinah North, along with presentations on environmental issues and a panel discussion on climate change and its impact on communities. — ONA
Muscat Daily
04-05-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Young innovators shine at Environmental Hackathon
Innovative projects by young Omanis tackle environmental challenges during two-day event The Environment Authority has announced the winners of the Environmental Excellence Hackathon, held over two days in North Batinah Governorate. The event saw enthusiastic participation from young innovators and technology enthusiasts from across the Sultanate. The hackathon was held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation for Scientific Research and Innovation, and attended by His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority. Taking first place was the project titled 'Pure Activated Carbon', followed by 'Stark' in second place, and 'Bio Power' in third. Nizar bin Salem al Fanah al Arimi, Director of the Environment Department in North al Batinah, stated that the hackathon was designed to develop creative and technical solutions to environmental challenges. 'It aimed to encourage and support youth and developers in the environmental field, promote innovation, and find smart applications and platforms to address pressing environmental issues,' he said. He noted that the hackathon attracted a distinguished group of programmers, leading companies, job seekers and postgraduate students, who worked intensively over 48 hours to present innovative solutions to specific environmental problems. Participants exchanged ideas, designed prototypes, and built applications intended to improve environmental outcomes. The hackathon addressed a broad range of environmental topics, including coastal erosion, climate change, hurricanes, rising temperatures, invasive species, desertification, and overgrazing. During the closing ceremony, the Masar platform was launched to track performance indicators of employees in the North al Batinah Environment Department. The event also featured several working papers on environmental issues and a dialogue session focusing on the impact of climate change.
Muscat Daily
09-04-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
194 students compete in Oman university programming contest
Muscat – A total of 194 students from 21 universities and colleges across the sultanate are participating in the Oman University Programming Competition, which began on Wednesday under the patronage of H E Dr Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Innovation for Scientific Research and Innovation. Organised by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), the two-day event brought together 65 student teams for a rigorous challenge in coding and problem-solving. Participants, comprising 97 male and 97 female students, are grouped in teams of three. The contest features a five-hour session in which teams solve real-world problems that test algorithm design, logical reasoning, and software development skills. Solutions are coded in Python, Java and C++. Fahd bin Sultan al Abri, Director General of Sector Stimulation and Future Skills at MTCIT, said the aim is to identify and support emerging programming talent. 'This initiative fosters innovation and strengthens skills in problem-solving and software system design, empowering students to create solutions that support the development of key sectors,' he said. Teams are evaluated on the number of correct solutions, time taken, and number of attempts. Abri said the broader goal is to promote a culture of innovation and build the skills needed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 'The competition contributes to building a culture of innovation and equips young Omanis to engage with technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially artificial intelligence and smart applications. This aligns with the national objective of transforming Oman into a knowledge-based, digital economy.' The competition will conclude on Thursday with an award ceremony recognising top-performing teams with cash prizes for their technical skills and innovative University Programming Competition
