The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, "Monsha'at", aims at launching startups from inside the universities, providing opportunities of the entrepreneurial practical applications, and developing graduation projects. This is in addition to the provision of financing opportunities and availing the opportunity for male and female students and affiliates of different universities to transform their ideas and projects into startups.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman Khudair, an official at Monsha'at, referred to these points during an introductory meeting of the ‘University Startups’ Initiative, where he was hosted, last Thursday, by the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Umm Al-Qura University. The meeting took place in the presence of the Dean of the Institute, Dr. Muwaffaq Urijah, the vice deans, and the UQU students interested in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Khudair pointed out that the initiative was launched by Monsha'at in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The initiative aims to empower the cooperation between university affiliates of different specializations to develop solutions and create an entrepreneurial environment, to encourage knowledge exchange, and to share success stories that contribute to creating startups in the future.

On his part, Dr. Muwaffaq Urijah talked about the importance of the initiative and the significance of the participation of the university's students in its different specializations. Moreover, he highlighted the institute's and the UQU vice presidency's interest in the initiative that targets the university's affiliates, including its male and female students as well as the academic staff and employees, considering that it will contribute to re-disseminate the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, methodological projects, graduation projects, private projects, and patents. Moreover, he asked the students wishing to register to complete registration procedures at the following link: click here.