This Tuesday morning, the Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation Committee of the Shura Council hosted experts from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation to learn about the activities of Muscat Innovation Complex, its objectives, and the prominent services it offers. This initiative was undertaken as part of the committee's ongoing focus on enhancing innovation and artificial intelligence fields in the Sultanate of Oman

During the meeting, the experts delivered a visual presentation that included an overview of the Muscat Innovation Complex's plan, which consists of three buildings: Innovation, Manufacturing and Modelling, in addition to the Social Center. The complex spans an area of 7,032 square meters and is equipped with state-of-the-art fourth-generation devices and artificial intelligence. It also provides training workshops targeting students aged 7-11 in the field of modern software, along with a theatre, meeting rooms, an Excellence Center for advanced communication technologies and the internet, laboratories for small and medium-sized companies, incubators, and other facilities supporting innovation enhancement in Oman.

The experts highlighted the key services provided by the Muscat Innovation Complex, including access to manufacturing and modeling centers, guidance and support for entrepreneurship, organization of training and workshops in various programs and centers. They also mentioned that the complex would offer offices and co-working spaces for technical and commercial consultations and investment opportunities.

Regarding the objectives of establishing the Muscat Innovation Complex, the presentation emphasized its role in building a knowledge-based economy by fostering an entrepreneurial culture in scientific research and innovation fields. It also aims to support investment and development of ideas through an incubator and accelerator program, encouraging the manufacturing of products and projects based on research and development, in addition to providing new job opportunities for experienced professionals and increasing the number of registered patents and intellectual property protection.

Members of the committee raised several inquiries and clarifications regarding the information and data presented by the ministry's experts, with the aim of supporting the committee's ongoing discussions on the subject.

Additionally, during its eighth regular meeting of the first annual session of the tenth term (2023-2027), chaired by Jamal bin Ahmed Al Abri, the committee discussed various topics on its agenda, including reviewing inquiries referred by the council's office, discussing the expressed desire regarding accepting graduates of Sharia Sciences College who study remotely in educational qualification courses, enhancing the recruitment of international students, and opening branches for international universities in Oman. The committee also discussed the feedback provided on the 2040 population policy report for the Sultanate of Oman and continued working on the agenda items for the first session of the tenth term.