Khaberni - The Crown Prince Foundation concluded today, Saturday, the activities of the second edition of the "Makers Forum" at the Hussein Cultural Center and Ras Al Ain Hangar in the capital, Amman, as part of the activities of the "Makers Space" program, one of the foundation’s programs.
The forum aimed to unite and empower the community of makers, innovators, and supporting institutions of this sector in their various categories, including students, researchers, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, and designers, within a comprehensive national platform for exchanging expertise, building partnerships, and stimulating innovation.
The Director of Innovation Management at the Crown Prince Foundation, Ismail Haqqi, stated during a media tour accompanied by a number of journalists, that the forum in its second edition embodies the ongoing efforts of the foundation to provide opportunities that enhance the culture of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, and promote the culture of adopting modern technological solutions, including digital manufacturing tools for all categories and sectors, contributing to enhancing economic opportunities for youth and institutions alike.
He added that the forum is an annual event that highlights local talents and innovations and encourages youth and innovators to develop their skills in digital manufacturing tools and prototyping, contributing to the development of local capacities and competencies and enhancing innovation in local products, and opening broader economic opportunities for them.
Haqqi indicated that the foundation strives to build a locally interconnected innovation ecosystem by providing the tools and opportunities that enable innovators and manufacturers in various provinces to turn their ideas into tangible products that contribute to the local market and increase their production and competition capabilities in the fields of innovation and creative industries.
The forum provided visitors the opportunity to experience digital manufacturing tools through an open space throughout the day, such as 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and closely examine how these technologies are employed in developing prototypes and innovative products.
The forum also included the announcement of the "Makers Map", a national digital platform, the first of its kind in Jordan, serving as a comprehensive guide that connects manufacturing spaces, labs, creativity incubators, universities, and enabling entities, enhancing cooperation between academic institutions, startups, and independent innovators.
The forum witnessed a specialized discussion panel under the title "Empowering the Future of Maker Communities in Jordan", with the participation of several active and supporting entities in innovation and makers locally, from incubators and accelerators to academic institutions and representatives from the public and private sectors, to exchange knowledge and experiences, showcase local and international experiences, alongside discussing future challenges and opportunities, and presenting recommendations for the development of the makers' community in Jordan, as part of the foundation's efforts to enhance cooperation between different parties in this context.
The forum included an exhibition of innovations and tangible products with the participation of more than 114 exhibitors from students, startups, and designers, in an interactive environment that enhanced the spirit of innovation and the exchange of expertise, where the best innovative project in the exhibition was announced by voting from the visitors at the end of the forum.
The forum showcased success stories and experiences with the participation of a number of local business experts, entrepreneurs, and innovators, through a series of discussion and knowledge sessions covering a number of topics in digital manufacturing, technology, sustainability, localization of engineering expertise in Jordan and the Arab world, investment, and building global companies, drones, design and manufacture of medical solutions, and more, including hosting the international speaker Daniel Ingrassia, who shared his expertise in designing and building open-source manufacturing machines and developing advanced innovative tools to support innovators worldwide.
In addition, the forum included the implementation of 6 practical workshops on various topics, such as design and digital manufacturing and the Internet of Things and 3D printing, and provided the opportunity for visitors to meet more than 16 experts, entrepreneurs, and specialists in individual consultancy sessions within the "Experts Corner".
The forum included several interactive activities, among them the "Elevator of Ideas" experience, which allowed more than 60 young and emerging entrepreneurs from various provinces, ages, and categories to present their ideas and projects within one minute, aiming to encourage creativity, document innovative ideas, and provide an opportunity for owners of outstanding ideas to benefit from guidance and continue developing their projects within the foundation's programs.
The Crown Prince Foundation organized the Makers Forum this year in cooperation with Zain Jordan as a strategic partner.
