The Governor of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority “Monsha’at”, Doctor Ghassan Al Sulaiman, and the Chairman of the Board of the Asbar International Forum, Doctor Fahad Al-Orabi Al-Harthi, honored the winners of the Ebtker competition, held by the forum with the participation of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority.

The list of winners comprised three people: Hamza Abdullah Al-Ahmari, who won first place for his innovation (Al-Maha vital signs monitoring systems); Hamed Mohammed Al-Anazi, who won second place for his innovation (a blood cholesterol measuring device); and Majed Mohammed Al-Saqri, who won third place for his innovation (the electromagnetic float).

The Deputy Governor of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority for Enterprise Support, Engineer Sami Al Hussaini, stated that the award winners received gold, silver, and bronze medals, along with full incubation and support for their innovations from the authority.

He added that the award, launched by the forum for the first time in its second edition this year, drew 263 contestants representing nine regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 81 of whom hold patents, and that 30 innovators were selected from among the applicants according to specific criteria. Women accounted for 30% of the participants.

Al Hussaini added that the competition aims to discover innovations in their early stages, based on a set of criteria and conditions, namely holding a patent, preparing a prototype, and economic feasibility.

A judging panel of seven judges specializing in the scientific and academic fields and the investment sector, as well as experts in creativity, innovation, and patents, reviewed the innovations taking part in the exhibition.

According to Al Hussaini, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority is expected to consider supporting and incubating the outstanding innovations that have reached advanced stages and been marketed, within the authority’s various programs.