400 Arab Innovators participate for the first time at Challenge ME!

Intel is launching for the first time in the Middle East “Challenge ME!” An IoT (Internet of Things) competition in cooperation with several educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, private sector and business incubators from all across the Middle East.

Challenge ME! aims primarily to support talented youth and identify new ideas, innovations and solutions in the field of IoT with great business potential in addition to enable them to enter the entrepreneurship world and build successful businesses. 

The competition is open to all innovators in IoT aspiring to present prototypes of their innovations. The most 15 innovative projects and distinguished ideas will be selected after completing the evaluation process. A jury formed by experts from Intel and specialists in entrepreneurship and technology will be responsible for evaluating all the projects. The 15 finalists will be invited for the final stage of the competition in November 2015 to participate in an extensive three-day workshop held in Lebanon. 

Ooredoo Algeria is the strategic partner for Challenge ME!. In addition, other business incubators in the region, such as Intel IoT Lab, GLOW, Oobarmijoo, Oasis500, Berytech, TIEC, and Esprit is supporting the competition. Several educational institutions and Arab universities have joined to promote the competition among their students, such as Nile University, King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals, Arab American University in Jenin, Birzeit University, Palestine Technical University, Palestine Polytechnic University, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, and Petra University. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) also participated recently in the competition by promoting it to its members across the MENA region. The final workshops and the final ceremony will take place in Beirut, Lebanon and will be hosted by Berytech.

The competition will award an amount of USD 15,000 in cash, divided between the first three winners. First place winner wins USD 7000, Second place winner wins USD 4000, in addition to a special award with value of USD 4000 for the best project developed using Intel board. The for first and second winners will have the opportunity to participate at “Intel Innovation Summit” which will take place in London, UK. Other awards presented by Intel partners will be announced later.  

Registration was opened through the ChallengeME.Intel.com website on August 24th, 2015 and will be closed on October 22nd, 2015. The shortlisting of the 15 projects will take place using an online judging tool evaluating all the projects based on Internet of Things and the business model. The most creative 15 projects will be announced on the 30th of October, where the finalists will be invited to Lebanon, Beirut to participate in an intensive three-day workshop in November.  Winners will be announced during an award ceremony to be held right after.

"Intel Challenge ME for IoT aims at nurturing innovation and creativity through motivating youth to participate in technological projects. Through its technological leadership, this competition will support projects that increase productivity, provide job opportunities, and contribute to sustainable socioeconomic development." says Eng. Taha Khalifa, Regional Director of Intel MENA. 

"Our support to Intel Challenge ME stems from our belief that IoT is the basis of innovation and creativity which achieves global economic growth and pushes forward the development of societies. This competition encourages many youth in the Middle East to discover their passion for technology and how to utilize technology to find solutions for different global challenges." concluded Khalifa.

More than 400 participants from the MENA region including Egypt, Palestine, Jordon, UAE, Lebanon, KSA, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Qatar, Oman, and Iraq have registered so far in this competition.