AINAC 2017

9th and 10th November 2017
Previous Events
The Arab Innovation Network Annual Conference (AINAC) is an integral part of the initiative. AINAC aims to enhance innovation and research in the Arab world to facilitate the application of appropriate solutions to regional challenges and strategic needs in entrepreneurship, environment, health, and information and communication technology [ICT]. The three-day conference will be held annually around different Arab countries. We launched our first conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in December 2012. The event was inaugurated by HE Sheikh Nahyan Bn Mubarak, then the UAE minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of more than 200 attendees from 17 countries - which included students, entrepreneurs and academics. The programme included Professor Salim Al-Hassani, Cambridge alumnus and entrepreneur Badr Jafar, Arabtec Founder Riad Kamal, Stars of Science winner Haytham El Desuki alongside a number of scholars and entrepreneurs as key speakers.
In 2013, AINAC is took place in the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort along the shore of the Dead sea between 6-7 December where it was inaugurated by HE Professor Amin Mahmoud, Jordan’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, with the attendance of more than 300 delegates from the Arab world. The conference brought together like minded Arabs to make use of an exceptional combination of AINAC activities. Since then, we've managed to form active AIN societies in universities in the UK, UAE, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. Professor Marwan Khraishah, Professor Tawfiq Arafat, Mr. Raed Charafeddine, Dr. Adnan Abu-Daya and Dr. Shima Barakat and Mr. Najib Saab were among the key speakers.
AINAC 2014 took place in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island Rotana hotel again throughout the 27-28th of September 2014. Our programme involved a number of discussion panels by scientists, inspiring young professionals and entrepreneurs; workshops (delivered by Cambridge University's Judge Business School, The Swiss Society of Pharmaceuticals, and many more), think-tank sessions and of course the AINAC competition. Our speakers hosted discussion panels which focused on the management of innovation and technology in healthcare, engineering and health/environmental sciences.
Last year, AINAC 2015 was under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah. It was scheduled on the 11 th and 12 th of December at the Kempinski Hotel in Amman. The general theme for AINAC 2015 is inspired by the International Year of Light as tribute to UNESCO's educational campaign titled "1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn al-Haytham", where the great Arab scientist Ibn al-Haytham's contribution to modern optics is to be celebrated.
More than 400 people attended AINAC 2015 from more than 20 countries (such as China, Sudan, Lebanon, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, and UK). 60 students were sponsored by Aramex to attend AINAC. The conference activities included:
  • Keynote speech by:
    • H.E. Prof. Labib Khadra - Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
    • H.E. Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh - Founder and Chair, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org)
  • Debates
  • Workshops: e.g. Cambridge University and Qatar University.
  • Qomra – opportunity spaces
  • Student competitions and challenges