13 business centers.. a national network that turns ideas into scalable projects in Salt

This network allows a project owner in any governorate to benefit from the services of any of the business centers spread across the Kingdom, enhancing communication, networking, and access to services and supportive entities, giving business owners greater flexibility in utilizing the entrepreneurial environment available in different regions.

Salt Business Center offers an integrated business environment that includes administrative and advisory services, office spaces and equipment, meeting and event halls, printing and office services, along with assistance in networking with relevant entities and institutions, helping project owners start and develop their businesses within a supportive environment.

Dr. Muhammad Imran Arabiyat, Director of Salt Business Center, said that the center is part of the 'Iqla' program to develop project productivity, implemented in partnership with several institutions and supportive entities, focusing on agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and services sectors, with an emphasis on employing technology and opening new paths for business owners.

Arabiyat explained that the role of the business center is not limited to providing space and equipment, but extends to offering consultations and administrative services, managing human resources and programs, organizing meetings and events, networking business owners with entities and institutions concerned with support and financing, and directing project owners to appropriate entities according to the nature of their project and the conditions of each entity.

He emphasized that the presence of a network of 13 centers in various governorates expands the scope of benefit for business owners, allowing a project owner to benefit from any center according to their needs, enabling them to access services, opportunities, and networks of relationships beyond their governorate.

He pointed out that a nascent project needs more than just funding in its early stages; it needs knowledge, guidance, equipment, relationships, and market access, elements that an integrated business environment and network of business centers can help provide.

'Telescope Lab'.. an idea turned into a project

The experience of Abdul Halim Hamdan, owner of the 'Telescope Lab' project, stands out as a model for a project based on a specialized idea in the field of education and technology, as the project trains children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 in robotics, programming, and technology, teaching them how to design, program, and animate robots, along with developing their skills in innovation and teamwork.

The project started in the north of the Kingdom, while Hamdan aspires to expand his work and reach various governorates of the Kingdom, by launching from schools, attracting students, and building partnerships that allow introducing more children and adolescents to this type of education and training.

'Telescope Lab' also works on developing a specialized team in the field of robotics, where the team participates in implementing practical projects and applications, turning theoretical knowledge into practical skills and experiences for students.

Hamdan says that being part of the business community has given him the opportunity to meet owners of different projects and entities, learn about available opportunities and market needs, considering networking as an important element in the journey of any nascent project, as it opens the door to new relationships that may turn into partnerships, clients, or expansion opportunities.

The challenge.. convincing the market of the idea

The journey of 'Telescope Lab' was not without challenges, as Hamdan points out that one of the main challenges was convincing some schools and the local community of the idea's feasibility, especially since robotics education is still a relatively new field for some entities.

He points out that the idea itself is of interest, but the challenge appears when it comes to turning this interest into an actual decision to contract training programs, explaining that some entities need to see the results practically before making their decision.

He adds that the experience has proven that practical results are the best way to introduce others to the project; when a school experiences the program and feels its impact on students, the experience itself becomes a means of introducing the project to other schools, which contributed to opening new cooperation opportunities through customer recommendations.

The experience of 'Telescope Lab' shows that having a good idea is just the starting point, while turning it into a viable project requires understanding the market, reaching customers, building relationships, developing services, and having the ability to sustain and grow.

Network of centers linking the project owner to opportunities

The importance of the network of business centers spread across the governorates is highlighted in giving project owners the opportunity to benefit from a system not tied to a single geographical location, where a project owner can benefit from the services of any center according to their needs, communicate with different project owners and entities, and take advantage of opportunities available in other governorates.

This model enhances the concept of networking among project owners, so that relationships and opportunities are not limited to the scope of the governorate, but extend to a broader network that can contribute to reaching new markets, potential partners, and supportive services and entities.

The experience of 'Telescope Lab' reveals a part of the journey a project owner takes from the moment they have an idea until they reach the market, a journey that requires an incubator environment that combines knowledge, equipment, services, consultations, and networking.

According to Dr. Arabiyat, the importance of business centers is not limited to providing an office or workspace, but lies in building an environment that helps project owners test and develop their ideas, reach relevant entities, and build the relationships they need to transition from the initiative phase to a scalable and expandable project.

With the presence of 13 business centers in various governorates of the Kingdom and the possibility for a project owner to benefit from any center within this network, the scope of movement and access to services and opportunities for nascent projects expands, making business centers a link between the idea, its owner, and the market it targets.