Innovation, enterprise and creativity are the watchwords that rule the Arab world today. Testimony to this is Challenge 22, an innovation award launched in 2015 by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), promotes a culture of innovation in the Middle East and attracts entrepreneurs, scientists and pioneers from across the Arab world. It showcases ideas that can contribute towards the hosting and organisation of major events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, while building a sustainable, economically diverse future for the region.
The second cycle of Challenge 22, which runs from 27 September 2016 to 11 May 2017, aims to inspire innovative ideas that translate into practical events solutions in four key areas: sustainability, health & safety, the internet of things and tourism experience. This cycle, Challenge 22 has also now expanded its reach beyond the six Gulf countries to include Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
The SC, which organises this innovation award, has always believed that young people in the Arab world have great creativity and potential. Challenge 22 will ensure that when the world is watching the Middle East in 2022, Arab innovation is in the spotlight.
Challenge 22 unites, inspires and challenges the region’s brightest minds, providing innovative thinkers with the opportunity to have their ideas showcased in front of an audience of billions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ and beyond.
The challenges are based on the following categories: Sustainability, Health & Safety, Tourism Experiences and Internet of Things.
Individuals and groups of up to four with the most innovative ideas will win prizes of USD 15,000 and receive mentoring from leading scientists and researchers in the region. Those with the very best ideas will receive up to USD 100,000 in additional funding to develop their ideas to proof of concept stage.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applications can be submitted by individuals or teams of up to four people.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, and be citizens or legal residents of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia or the United Arab Emirates at the time of application.
As Challenge 22 was established to engage the region ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, any individual applying alone must be of Arab origin. For teams, at least one applicant must be of Arab origin.
This will be evidenced through current or past citizenship of the applicant or at least one of the applicant’s parents, in one of the following 22 Arab states:
Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Dijbouti, Egypt, Iraq , Jordan, and so on. Each applicant may only be associated with one proposal.
BTW wishes all aspiring applicants the very best of luck!