The CEO of Ma'an Development Company, Engineer Mohammad Fawaz Abu Tayeh, emphasized that the workshop comes within the framework of the company's commitment to supporting national institutions, providing opportunities for project owners and entrepreneurs to benefit from support programs, and transforming research and innovation outputs into productive projects that serve the national economy.
He stated that the Ma'an Development Area was established under a royal vision to stimulate development in the south of the Kingdom, attract investments, and provide job opportunities, noting that achieving these goals is not limited to attracting large investments, but also includes building an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and startups.
Abu Tayeh stressed the importance of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in supporting the economy and providing employment opportunities, emphasizing the need to empower youth to transition from job seeking to establishing and growing their own projects. He added that the company's doors are open to serious ideas and constructive initiatives, and to discussing ways to support them within the company's capabilities, areas of work, and partnerships.
For his part, the Director of the National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES), Engineer Muath Al-Alawin, gave a presentation on the mechanisms for benefiting from the fund's programs, explaining that it was established as a joint project between Jordan and Japan, and operates under the umbrella of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, with the aim of improving the performance of small and medium-sized private sector institutions and raising their efficiency and competitiveness.
He explained that the fund contributes to the costs of consulting services for administrative and financial development projects and training programs, helping institutions and entrepreneurial and newly established projects to develop their capabilities and administrative systems.
The Director of Industrial Partnerships and Commercialization at the Scientific Research and Innovation Support Fund, Engineer Dalia Ayoub, gave a presentation on the programs of the Scientific Research and Innovation Support Fund and its orientation toward supporting research with applied outputs, and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship resulting from research and development.
She reviewed the fund's role in creating a stimulating environment for investment in research and innovation outputs, in cooperation with universities, research institutions, and relevant authorities, through capacity building and providing financial support for projects. She also addressed the importance of commercializing patents and intellectual property rights, and directing their returns to support new research and innovation projects, in a way that enhances the sustainability of funding and expands employment opportunities, especially for youth.
The workshop witnessed an interactive dialogue with the participants, during which opinions were exchanged and questions and inquiries were raised regarding the available support programs, the conditions for benefiting from them, and the mechanisms for applying to them. Representatives of the two funds answered the attendees' questions, contributing to clarifying procedures and helping institution and project owners identify the support opportunities appropriate to their needs.
