President of Umm Al Qura University (UQU) and Chairman of Wadi Makkah Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Bin Bakri Assas on Tuesday, Shawal 15, launched the first summer program organized by the company for UQU students.

Up to 66 students have participated in the program which was supervised by the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Assas gave the green light to its activities during a meeting with Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Dr. Thamir bin Hamdan al-Harbi and Dean of Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dr. Wadih Barqawi.

Addressing the meeting, Dr. Assas said the program is envisaged to sharpen skills, talents and innovative thinking which help students to change their patented ideas into concrete products. The new ideas may later be the core of new startup business at Wadi Makkah, the chairman said, adding the company managed to incorporate 15 startup businesses. These newly established companies won contracts with government and public entities, Dr. Assas said. The startups can today produce about 19 different products labeled "Made in Makkah".

He reiterated importance of training university students at the Wadi Makkah Startup Center. "The training courses help students to convert their innovations into products under the Kingdom Vision 2030". They receive training about the knowledge-based economy, he said.

In the same context, Dr. Barqawi said the summer program is part of a study and training plan set by the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He added the program is only a step forward after success achieved in Japan, UK and the US. The program, with the support of Dr. Assas, was held at Wadi Makkah's HQ. The company received more than 300 applications, but accepted 66 students to receive a 7-week training course which was planned according to the trainers' schedule.

The training plan includes the creation of modeling system, web site and application designing, marketing, business development and programming, Dr. Barqawi noted. The number of students who are wishing to joint the program mirrors the trust they have in the UQU and other universities, he said. This year's program gave every student the chance to apply for gaining the technical and practical skills from working in Wadi Makkah startups, the dean said, and saluting the UQU President, Vice-President for Business & Innovation and CEO of Wadi Makkah Osama bin Rashid Al-Omari for their support.

Also, Wadi Makkah PR Official Majed Abdullah gave the meeting an introductory presentation on the services may be provided by the company for the startup businesses.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Abdullah said the students who were accepted to the program would be divided into groups to join Wadi Makkah's startups. During their course, they would be allowed to carry out technical jobs of real-world business development to get the necessary skills. According to Mr. Abdullah, the trainees would be given access to Startups Center, Electronic Sensors Factory, Wadi Makkah Fund for Supporting Startups and Angel Investors and Venture Capital Network. 

Relatedly, Head of the Technology Innovation Center Dr. Anas Ba-Salama briefed summer class students about the center's experiments that were born as ideas and changed into researches before they turn into a foundation for a startup company.