Manchester Business School (MBS) in collaboration with the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development on Tuesday launched the 2010 ’Manchester Innovation Award’ for Emiratis, at a special ceremony held at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, attended by dignitaries, VIPs and the winner/finalists from 2009.

In a press release issued today Manchester Business School invited innovative business plans from Emiratis which will be judged by a panel of professors, academic directors and selected MBS alumni. The winner will be selected based on the innovation and creativity demonstrated by the business ideas.

The Manchester Innovation Award for Emiratis is an initiative to stimulate entrepreneurship and business innovation among UAE nationals, and provide practical, academic and financial support to develop the best ideas submitted by Emirati entrepreneurs into successful businesses.

The inaugural award launched in 2009 in collaboration with the Khalifa Fund and with the sponsorship of Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council was a resounding success with around 100 registrations; seven finalists were selected and announced at an award ceremony gala dinner coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009.

The Manchester Innovation Award is open to entries from all Emiratis aged 20 and over. The winner, to be announced in November 2010 during Global Entrepreneurship Week, will benefit from an all-expenses study tour to MBS in the UK, a cash award and trophy, as well as ongoing support in the development of the winning business innovation from professors at MBS and the Manchester Enterprise Centre (based at MBS), as well as the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.

Speaking at the launch, Nigel Banister, Chief Global Officer of Manchester Business School, said: "The Manchester Innovation Award helps encourage Emirati businesspeople - and business minded Emiratis - to think creatively about business. The 2010 Manchester Innovation Award for Emiratis once again aims to help inspire business.

The 2009 Award was a resounding success and we were very impressed by the business skills we saw demonstrated by the finalists and especially the winner, who we were delighted to host in Manchester. We look forward to an equally exciting 2010 programme and thank all the Award sponsors and supporters, and especially the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development for its invaluable collaboration." Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Deputy CEO of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: "Khalifa Fund aims to support creativity across all segments of society by adopting and executing various initiatives and programs." Al Mansouri noted that the Fund has developed a number of specialised programs over the past year, aimed at instilling the entrepreneurial spirit and enriching the culture of innovation and creativity, such as the Sougha initiative, which successfully supported and motivated nationals skilled in handcrafts and heritage products.

He hailed MBS initiative and said such efforts support the Fund’s objectives and vision of entrepreneurship, proactivity and innovation. He confirmed that Khalifa Fund will look at any possibility to develop the winning idea and to help make it happen at the commercial level, within the Fund regulations.

According to Randa Bessiso, Director Middle East for MBS, Manchester is renowned for its innovation and practical approach to business challenges: "In this approach, we have much in common with the UAE, including a strong entrepreneurial spirit and vision. MBS also adopts this practical approach to learning through our ?original thinking applied’ view of the business world.

"As more business people in the region realize the importance of upgrading their skill sets, more are being attracted to this approach, which is why the Middle East is already MBS’ largest international centre", Randa added.

A proposal to establish a factory in Abu Dhabi for the treatment of waste oil, with the factory collecting the waste oil from the end users, then recycling the oil to produce irrigation water and bio-fuels, was selected the winner of the inaugural 2009 ?Manchester Innovation Award’ for Emiratis. The idea was developed by Mohamed Al Hajri, a civil engineer.

Interested individuals can apply through website www.mbs-worldwide.ae/innovation/default.asp for further details on the Manchester Innovation Award and an application form. The deadline for entries is 15th September 2010.
 

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