Salalah: A ceremony was held in Salalah, Dhofar Governorate, today to launch the OQ Base Industries (OQBi) hackathon, focusing on technology, entrepreneurship, engineering, and energy. The three-day event features the participation of 30 teams from different age groups.
According to Oman News Agency, the opening ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar. The event aims to create a competitive environment that encourages innovation by developing practical solutions to address challenges in various fields, including energy, technology, education, entrepreneurship, crafts, and industries.
Eng. Khalid bin Khalfan Al Asmi, CEO of OQ Base Industries, emphasized the importance of investing in human capital as essential for industrial transition and the development of a sustainable knowledge economy, in line with the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040. This year’s hackathon focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) as a platform for innovation. Al Asmi noted that high school students are participating for the first time through robotics workshops aimed at fostering a culture of innovation and developing future technology pioneers in Oman.
The event also included a visual presentation showcasing past hackathons and success stories of innovators and inventors whose projects were adopted by OQX Business Accelerators. The third edition of the hackathon, held in cooperation with civil society partners, will focus on addressing challenges associated with the industrial sector in Dhofar Governorate through innovative solutions that meet the needs of this crucial sector and enhance its sustainability.