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NEOM Launches Accelerator To Support Saudi Entrepreneurs
The program will support small to medium enterprises and innovative businesses.
A new accelerator program called Seven Senses has been launched by the social responsibility department of NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s hyper-futuristic city development.
The program will support SMEs, as well as craftsmen and other professionals, with the aim of driving innovation and change in the NEOM and Tabuk regions.
نسعى لنترك أثرًا ونغيّر واقعًا ونبني مستقبلًا بجهودٍ مشتركة ومواهب شابة وأفكارٍ لا حدود لها، لنلهم بها غيرنا ونضع بصمتنا في يوم #المسؤولية_الاجتماعية #نلتزم_بمسؤوليتنا_الاجتماعية #نغير_الحاضر pic.twitter.com/EoOXPIDy9m
— المسؤولية الاجتماعية في نيوم (@NEOM_CSR) March 23, 2023
The accelerator program is welcoming applications until May 14. Although the Seven Senses program is open to anyone, officials are keen to encourage media, arts and culture, food, clothing, and new media projects.
The program will begin with a two-day entrepreneurial boot camp on May 28, where 150 entrepreneurs will receive training in business building, marketing, and attracting investors. After that, participants will present their ideas to an expert panel to compete for a place in the accelerator, held between late May and August.
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“The idea of the NEOM accelerator program Seven Senses, which was designed after extensive studies of the market reality, came to support entrepreneurs and owners of emerging companies in the regions of NEOM and Tabuk through scientific and practical paths that contribute to developing their capabilities,” says Meshari Al Mutairi, Executive Director of Government Affairs at NEOM.
After completing the program, participants will enjoy priority access to entrepreneurial opportunities in the NEOM area, as well as lucrative investment opportunities.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.