OAPGRC to organise Biodiversity Ideathon in February

Muscat: Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Centre (OAPGRC) of The Research Council (TRC) and Innovation Factory (IF) are calling citizens and residents from all nationalities in Oman who are interested in biodiversity business to apply for ‘Manafi’ Biodiversity Ideathon no later than January 25, 2018.
The Biodiversity Ideathon ‘Manafi’, which will be organised by OAPGRC and IF on February 23 to 24, 2018, is a programme that has been designed to help youth aged (18 to 48 years old) to learn, build and share their business ideas within a 48-hour period in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. ‘Manafi’ programme is open to Oman-based residents of all nationalities. Based on their interest, skills and knowledge, each of the enrolled participants will be placed on a team of four members that will present their business ideas to potential investors and incubators.
The programme is aimed at providing Oman’s entrepreneurial and scientific community with the opportunity to pitch innovative and creative biodiversity business ideas, which could potentially be transformed into working models.
A biodiversity business can be defined as a commercial enterprise that generates profits via activities, which conserve biodiversity, use biological resources sustainably and share the benefits arising from this use equitably.
“‘Manafi’ is an amazing opportunity for eco-conscious business people and scientists to get involved at the early stages of development,” Abdullah Al Rawahi, Deputy Executive Director for Support Services at OAPGRC said.
“Oman’s thriving business community should do what it does best, see the threats associated with the global biodiversity crisis as an opportunity and develop new ideas, services and products to address the risks. Manafi’s ultimate aim is to promote more informed discussion, understanding, experimentation and investment in the sultanate’s biodiversity start-up space,” Al Rawahi added.
OAPGRC and IF are giving Oman-based youth aged 18 to 45 the opportunity to pitch their sustainable biodiversity business ideas to a jury of potential investors and incubators.
Interested applicants can read through the Ideathon’s rules and regulations and register to participate on the OAPGRC’s website (www.oapgrc.gov.om). Successful applicants will receive an interview invitation email and those who pass the interview then receive an entrance confirmation email with the programme’s schedule.
The Biodiversity Ideathon will be preceded with a brain storming mandatory session for all participants on February 16, 2018.
During ‘Manafi’ programme, qualified facilitators will be on hand at all stages dedicating their time to helping participating teams get the ball rolling and push through any idea obstacles, providing the help participants need from someone with the appropriate expertise.
After the 48 hours is completed, teams will be given 10 minutes to present their ideas to a panel of investors and incubators. There will be no criteria to follow to win an offer from a member of the panel. You will only need to well sell your business idea to impress them!
Oman’s Treasure Chest of Biodiversity
Oman is home to 1,407 species of plants, more than 1,200 species of fish, 10 livestock species, 128 breeding species of birds, over 130 coral species, and five turtle species and many of these have economic value.