Omani inventors win three medals at ITEX in Malaysia
Muscat – Oman won one silver and two gold medals at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2025) held in Kuala Lumpur that concluded on May 31.
Badr bin Salim al Muqbali received a gold medal for his invention – a remote controlled device to operate a ring-bonding unit. Earlier, he won the Best Innovator Award presented by the Bunyan Foundation in Saudi Arabia.
The second gold for Oman was claimed by Malak bint Khalifa al Harthi for her project involving a Portland cement composite reinforced with carbon nanoplates, proposed for use as dental filling.
The silver medal was won by Yusra bint Yousef al Ghadani for her project titled 'Squid ink water filter'.
Amna bint Ali al Siyabi, Research and Innovation Capacity Building Specialist at Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, described ITEX is a major international platform that allows young inventors to develop their ideas, connect with peers worldwide, and present their innovations to investors across sectors including medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, construction and energy.
According to al Amna, the ministry received 59 applications for participation in ITEX this year. Twenty projects were shortlisted and assessed by a specialised jury, with the top three chosen to represent Oman based on creativity, feasibility and potential global impact.
ITEX is held annually and brings together inventors, startups, investors and entrepreneurs from across Asia and Europe. This year's event featured over 1,000 inventions from more than 20 countries, offering opportunities for funding and industry exposure.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
an hour ago
- Observer
Training programme to improve quality of research, innovation output
Muscat: As part of its ongoing efforts to build national research and innovation capabilities, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MoHERI) has launched the second edition of its Research and Innovation Training Support Programme. This initiative aims to equip researchers and innovators across the Sultanate of Oman with the necessary skills and knowledge through specialised training programmes, developed in partnership with academic institutions. Ali Abdullah al Maskari, Director of Capacity Building at MoHERI, said that the programme was introduced to strengthen national research capacity through targeted training that promotes knowledge production and scientific excellence. "Our aim is to improve the quality of research and innovation output in Oman by providing high-level, specialised training courses in cooperation with academic institutions. This contributes directly to the Sultanate of Oman's global ranking in science and innovation indicators. Previously, each institution could only submit two proposals — one in research and one in innovation. Now, based on the size and research profile of each institution, universities are allowed to submit up to six proposals. This enables wider participation and diversity in training content,' Al Maskari explained. The programme targets a broad segment of society including students, academics, technicians, administrators, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, jobseekers and staff at higher education institutions. Both Omani and non-Omani participants aged 18 and above are eligible to apply. The supported fields this year include research and innovation project management, scientific research methodologies, proposal writing, grant and funding acquisition, Artificial intelligence and digital transformation in research. Applications are assessed against a set of criteria that ensure quality and relevance. 'We look at the quality and relevance of the content, the qualifications of the trainers, alignment with national research priorities, the proposed training duration, the training methods used, accessibility of the training location and the availability of essential facilities,' Al Maskari said. Reflecting on the first edition, Al Maskari shared that 18 academic institutions submitted 36 training proposals, of which 18 were funded. The programme attracted 489 participants from across Oman, achieving a satisfaction rate of 87 per cent. One particularly inspiring example was a group of four participants from the Wilayat of Ibri in Al Dhahirah Governorate who attended a three-week training in Al Buraimi without missing a single session — demonstrating extraordinary commitment and enthusiasm. The programme's inaugural cycle also revealed a number of challenges. One such issue was the inconsistent visual branding of the training materials. 'We resolved this by developing a unified template for presentations, posters and electronic materials to be used by all participating institutions,' said Al Maskari. Other measures included shortening some training courses and offering hybrid options (in- person and online) to increase accessibility and participation. Looking ahead, Al Maskari revealed that the ministry is working on launching a new initiative aimed at supporting Omani researchers and innovators to participate in international training programmes. 'This expansion will open new global learning pathways and will be launched in the last quarter of this year. It complements our current programme and directly supports the goals of Oman Vision 2040,' he said.
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Times of Oman
Five Omani higher education institutions make mark in 2026 QS World Rankings
Muscat: The 2026 QS World University Rankings have recognised five Omani higher education institutions, including Sultan Qaboos University, University of Nizwa, Dhofar University, Sohar University, and the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech). Sultan Qaboos University achieved significant progress, climbing 28 spots to secure the 334th position globally. The University of Nizwa ranked within the 770–761 bracket, while Dhofar University was placed in the 900–851 range. Sohar University entered the rankings within the 1000–951 category, and GUtech was positioned between 1200–1001. This performance reflects the steady advancement of Oman's academic and research infrastructure, as reported by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the UK-based global higher education analyst, on its official 2026 rankings website. Dr. Maryam Bil'arab Al Nabhani, Director General of Private Universities and Colleges at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, stated that the QS rankings are among the most prestigious global benchmarks for higher education institutions. She noted that Oman Vision 2040 includes a strategic objective for national universities to break into the global academic elite, with an emphasis on placing four Omani universities among the world's top 500 in QS rankings. She explained that the QS methodology evaluates universities based on key indicators, including academic reputation (assessed through expert surveys on teaching and research quality), employer reputation (measuring graduate employability), and faculty-to-student ratios (reflecting educational quality). Research impact is gauged through citation metrics, while international faculty and student ratios demonstrate institutional diversity and global appeal. Additional metrics encompass sustainability performance, contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), graduate employment outcomes, and international research collaboration networks. Dr. Al Nabhani emphasised that these results reflect Oman's national efforts to enhance academic competitiveness in line with Oman Vision 2040. They also underscore the continuous progress of Omani higher education institutions in elevating academic standards and strengthening their global presence.
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Forum highlights integration between academic, industrial sectors
More Omani students will benefit from the Siraj Foundation, an endowment foundation supporting education, during the 2025-2026 period, turning their dreams into reality, as announced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. This announcement was made at the First Annual Forum to Enhance Integration between the Academic and Industrial Sectors, held under the auspices of Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, at the Ministry's General Diwan office on Wednesday. During the forum, 18 agreements were signed to promote community engagement in enhancing education, with the primary goal of strengthening partnerships between higher education institutions and society. These agreements aim to cultivate a culture of endowment in support of education, focusing on raising awareness among students, teaching staff and administrative departments, as well as encouraging participation in educational institution events and activities. The forum also featured visual presentations from private higher education institutions, public and private sector organisations; and the Siraj Education Endowment Foundation. The Ministry also presented the Ejaad platform, emphasising cooperation between the academic and industrial sectors. Engineer Mahmoud bin Khalfan al Hadidi, CEO of the Siraj Foundation, expressed pride in expanding the network of partnerships with educational institutions to enhance social solidarity and support students in need. The Foundation is actively implementing initiatives and programmes to support education in Oman, including the "University Student Sponsorship" initiative and the "Siraj Advantages" electronic platform, which facilitate donations and support for students pursuing higher education. The First Annual Forum to Enhance Integration between the Academic and Industrial Sectors brought together institutions from both sectors and was attended by CEOs of public and private sector organisations, as well as presidents and deans of private higher education institutions. In his opening speech, Yahya bin Salam al Mandhari, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, emphasised the importance of aligning higher education with the needs of the labour market to contribute to sustainable development, in line with Oman Vision 2040. The forum aimed to exchange experiences in areas such as scientific research, training for graduate students and financing projects in private higher education institutions, highlighting the significance of developing a flexible educational system to meet the demands of the changing times and supply the labour market with skilled national talents.
