Coinciding with the global celebrations of the Entrepreneurship Week, the third global virtual conference to support the innovation, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and technology system was launched from Kuwait. The conference continued for three days from 15th to 17th November 2022 from 1 pm to 12 am KWT, under the auspices of Her Excellency Ms. Aseel Al-Munifi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance. This conference comes as part of one of the Gulf initiatives that took upon itself to raise the competitive ratings and indicators of the Gulf countries, and economic diversification through modern economic programs, in which more than 320 experts from all over the world will participate. It brought together practitioners, governments, academic scientists, decision-makers, funding institutions, researchers, and experts to share the best successful practical applications and future visions related to innovation, management, technology, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence. The conference will be held via Whova Artificial Intelligence platform.

The Second Global Conference focused on (7) main objectives:

1. Enhancing the atmosphere of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
2. Involving the local and Gulf community in innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial activities by creating media and educational systems; as well as developing curricula that work on the transfer of knowledge and skills to individuals and organizations to employ them in order to raise awareness and promote the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity.
3. Supporting communities of practitioners and professionals through the sustainability of smart growth and innovation, as well as the sustainability of economy through the sustainability of smart zones through technology, cooperation, education, and other economic and social strategies.
4. Exchanging experience with effective partnerships in the areas of innovation, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship.
5. Developing strategies and implementation plans to accelerate the social and economic impacts of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship at all international levels.
6. Identifying challenges and opportunities for innovation, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship programs.
7. Supporting the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The conference was initiated with an opening speech by His Excellency Mr. Saad Al-Alaty on behalf of Her Excellency Ms. Aseel Al-Munifi, as he welcomed all the participants at the opening of the Third Global Virtual Conference to support the innovation, creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship system. He also expressed his pride in launching it from the State of Kuwait, as the conference is an extension of the events that aim at raising the Gulf, local and global communities towards economic, social, and technological growth.

In his speech, he noted that the State of Kuwait has always been a key player in technological investment, advanced technologies, and virtual and innovative services towards economic diversification based on innovation and entrepreneurship programs. As this comes in line with the State of Kuwait's 2035 development vision, which focuses on sustainable smart growth and digital transformation, that the State of Kuwait becomes a financial and commercial center attracting investment at the regional and global levels, as well as aligning them with the 2030 Sustainable Development Objectives.

Al-Alaty added, "The digital economy is considered a long-term investment on which the world’s advanced countries have relied towards digital transformation. As digital economy is involved in all areas of economic, technological, financial, academic and social life."

He continued, "Countries have many challenges in the innovation, entrepreneurship and technology ecosystem, but in the Gulf countries, the challenges disappear by accession to business accelerators and business incubators programs, innovation and entrepreneurship centers and obtaining direct logistical support such as financing, consulting and training. Therefore, the importance of global conferences comes through sharing successful global experiences and expertise, creating strategic partnerships in the area of innovation, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and technology, as well as generating innovative ideas, tools, and strategies for future applications.

Dr. Hanadi Al-Mubaraki, President of the Global Conference to Support the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and the Founder of Ecosystem for Management Consulting Co., delivered a speech in which she said, "It is my great pleasure to be here today to meet with more than 321 experts from 36 countries in this global virtual conference in conjunction with the global celebration of Entrepreneurship Week towards the improvement of innovation and entrepreneurship system."

Dr. Hanadi Al-Mubaraki stated that advanced and developing countries have largely agreed that innovation is the strategic driver of the digital economy, supporting the growth and expansion of modern economic institutions based on innovation and technology, towards growth and activating highly efficient acceleration programs, which help institutions implement innovation strategies, and accelerate the process of establishing start-ups. As well as promote smart economic growth and encourage innovation that dramatically improves products, services, processes and new organizational methods in business practices.

Al-Mubaraki noted that smart programs are considered a long-term investment and a vital tool for economic diversification based on successful best practices that lead to the achievement of a matrix of outputs, such as a high rate of successful partnerships and relationships, technology transfer, and marketing them. In addition to helping to accelerate financing and successful strategic planning, enhance the atmosphere of entrepreneurship and innovation in smart cities, in addition to marketing research and development, and technological innovation. As well as supporting technological entrepreneurship, which will lead to the provision of a high rate of employment opportunities, high productivity, and distinctive inventions with a high survival rate of firms around 90% and a high rate of startups in the market.

For her part, Her Highness Princess Doaa bint Mohammed, the pioneer of social work and the founder of Al-Maharah Education Company, explained that undergraduate and postgraduate studies have two basic missions, the first and the basic ones are based on research and education, and the second is based on innovation and impact. Thus, undergraduate education is the starting point for supporting innovation, supported by financing funds.

For his part, His Highness Sheikh Salem Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation in Ras Al Khaimah, said, “Innovation is simply a new idea or improvement and the process of enhancing an existing idea. At the Department of Civil Aviation in Ras Al Khaimah, our focus will always be on more efficient services for customers and a safer environment for all, which is why we inculcate innovation and creativity as part of our cultural values, to provide our employees with confidence and competence to tackle the challenges in the daily scenario.”

In this context, Mr. Abdullah Al-Mazrou’, Director-General of the Patent Office at the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States (GCC), said that he considered the intellectual property system in its various categories and the rights arising from it as an incubator that stimulates innovation, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship. As this leads to the possession of qualitative assets that push the knowledge-based economy of countries to the desired sustainability.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, His Excellency Mr. Anas Mizra, the CEO of the National Company Group for Technology Projects, said, “One of the most important factors to support and develop the innovation system is to create a supportive environment that ensures its stimulation and containment in all its stages. As well as to ensure its sustainability even in the absence of institutional support for it. This environment is not necessarily associated with a specific time or place, especially in the initial stages of the innovation journey, but it is associated with ideas, the way to deal with the conditions of daily life, the ability to make decisions, and liberty to implement.”

His Excellency Professor Yousef Al-Roumi, Rector of Kuwait University, represented by His Excellency Dr. Zaid Dashti, participated in a speech at the opening ceremony, in which he said, “At Kuwait University, we seek to achieve visions and create strategies that are concerned with promoting modern technology in the various work centers in University and its colleges. As we are working on creating an administrative and financial system, high-quality systems that support the development process aiming to improve administrative, financial, and service performance through the use of artificial intelligence techniques to achieve quality standards and beneficiary satisfaction, supporting the infrastructure of information systems, developing the electronic ecosystem and making it a tangible reality.”

His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah, Chairman of Malik Soft Company, gave a speech in which he spoke about the New Kuwait Vision 2035, which works on adopting and developing various technology strategies to serve all mankind, especially in Artificial Intelligence, and about the importance and impact of this vision on changing my practical and investment nature of this area. His Excellency, Dr. Tariq Al Sheikh, the Representative of UN Secretary-General, noted that recent developments in the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), digital twin, robotics, smart grids and meters are leading and supporting the development of smart sustainable cities all over the world.

His Excellency Dr. Youssef Al-Marzouq, Chairman of Al-Anbaa Newspaper, said, “In a world where geopolitical variables are intense and peoples fight over natural resources whose main feature is depletion sooner or later, “innovation” remains an inexhaustible resource. As this makes it a real wealth that deserves attention by supporting and developing it to enrich people’s lives with new solutions that facilitate all their life matters, to achieve prosperity for all.”

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Ashraf Mansour, Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Sustainable Development and Environment in Cairo, stated that when efforts are united, the impossible is made possible and the difficult becomes easier, and the gathering of these competencies is clear evidence of a firm desire to overcome all obstacles.”

His Excellency Manaf Al-Munifi, the Head of Strategic Planning and Follow-up at Burgan Bank, said, “We expect the highly regulated banking industry to be rigid, heavy, and slow to change. The inability to adapt in these times will make any bank cease to exist within the next 5 years, therefore, the only way to move forward for banks is to adapt and become flexible enough to accommodate the shift in banking services from these old, thick building structures, to a service provider that customers can carry in their pockets, while still maintaining the same confidence in the security of traditional non-transferable vaults that we've seen in the movies."

For his part, His Excellency Colonel Abdul Samad Suleiman, Deputy Assistant Director for Leadership and Future Affairs of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security of the United Arab Emirates, concluded the speech at the opening ceremony, noting that the world is witnessing various developments now. As it is moving at an accelerated pace towards a new stage, governments seek to provide the best models for providing services and improving the quality of life through innovation and future foresight, and enhancing these services and processes to distinct levels. In this sense, the UAE has provided an inspiring model for governments, as it launched the Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain strategy. Since the leadership directives have always concentrated on establishing and developing the innovation system in line with the variables, using effective tools and strategies to support talent and to promote quality of life in various areas.

For his part, His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Al-Serihi, the Chairman of the Arab Council for Creativity and Innovation, gave a speech in which he said, “We live in an era that is full of influences and rapid changes that have changed the features of the real world that we knew and transferred it into a hypothetical world that we had previously imagined and now we coexist with. In order to be able to coexist, there must be a synchronization accompanying this great change, the modification of many of the constants that the human resource is accustomed to, who is the maker of this scientific breakthrough including changing the utilized knowledge, sciences and systems, and accelerating the modernization of organizations. All of these influences contribute to changing and developing this world around us.”

The journalist and political analyst, Mr. Dahem Al-Qahtani, spoke on behalf of Mr. Walid Al-Nisf, the Chairman of Al-Qabas Newspaper, said, “AI is no longer an option to determine whether we will use it or not. In today's world, Artificial Intelligence Systems have become one of the most important and indispensable pillars of most systems that operate factories or public utilities.”

In addition, His Excellency Mr. Waleed Al Khashti, the Executive Director of Relations and Communications at Zain Kuwait, delivered a speech as he said, “With the wave of digital transformation that the entrepreneurship world is witnessing, it is essential to exchange experiences and expertise between the private sector and the government agencies, as well as the civil society organizations to achieve the optimal benefit for all, which is the key objective of this distinctive conference year after year.”

His Excellency, Ghassan bin Nasser Al-Khoja, Resident Representative of the World Bank in Kuwait, said, “Demand-side factors must be addressed in the light of their role in determining the pace of digital adoption once digital connectivity is achieved. These factors include increased access to financial accounts, and increased digital and financial literacy, which can be leveraged to expand digital finance networks. While efforts to expand financial inclusion must continue across traditional bank accounts, mobile banking promises to accelerate the adoption of digital payments across society. The report found that mobile banking can stimulate digital payments, which will enable the region to overcome access restrictions to bank accounts and digital products that rely on bank accounts.”

Dr. Shafee Al Neyadi, a trainer and expert in human resource development and family relations, concluded the opening speeches, saying, “The study of innovative thinking in the era of information technology is a matter of “be or not to be” for any society, especially communities that depend on innovation in their industry and economy. As innovation is the most authentic future in human life, as it is that spring of life that never ceases, and this new hope is what keeps people hopeful, that tomorrow will be something else.”

For her part, Her Excellency Wejdan Ayyad, Advisor to the Minister of Education, said that the recent studies have shown that the most important transformation that may be reflected in the field of entrepreneurship is the "Artificial Intelligence Revolution". This is because the interactive relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation, and the acceleration of the technological pattern inevitably provides entrepreneurs with a great ability to transform ideas into successful projects. As this helps them enter emerging markets, develop innovative business models, invent new goods for customers, or create modern production technology and low-cost services to ensure the sustainability and profitability of companies, thus contributing to the development of a higher lifestyle for communities and achieving economic and social development.

Dr. Mohamed Laza’r, the senior expert of the technical staff at the Arab Planning Institute, said that this conference has gained an international reputation and its popularity is increasing year after year. This is due to its interest in topics of great importance related to economic diversification, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and creativity in the Arab countries in general and the GCC states in particular.

Ms. Al-Jawhara bint Turki Al-Otaishan, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Rowad Al A’mal Magazine, said, “Today we are on an important occasion that could represent a new approach that contributes to providing a deep vision of an area that is becoming increasingly important day after day. As it could become the Arab world’s safe gateway to solve all its economic, social and possibly political problems. Entrepreneurship has acquired an important dimension in the map of economic activities affecting the world, and this dimension was only a result of the development and growth achieved by entrepreneurship in the economies of many countries.

The opening speeches of the conference were concluded by His Excellency Abdul Rahman Al-Qa’shish, a Strategic Planning Advisor, by calling for partnerships and investment in various fields in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying, “As everyone may know that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 is mainly based on innovation as a tool to reach the objectives of its programs, initiatives, and qualitative projects. It is the cornerstone that will position it to achieve leadership in the global innovation scene, by creating a diversified and balanced innovation system characterized by effectiveness and efficiency. Government sectors have moved rapidly towards adopting modern concepts and practices in innovation to improve the governmental work environment and develop services, which will have a direct and indirect impact on all beneficiaries.”

The Third Global Virtual Conference to Support the Innovation, Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship System concluded with a set of recommendations, namely:

1. Developing and establishing a bank for initiatives that includes basic information and data for innovations and inventions at the local, Gulf, and regional levels, utilizing the latest applications in modeling.
2. Establishing technology transfer offices in research institutions and universities to support and market new inventions and technologies because of their added value in increasing the number of patents and intellectual property.
3. Enhancing the role of media in supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation via joint Gulf media programs and highlighting successful innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
4. Encouraging businessmen and private sector companies to invest in supporting the innovation and entrepreneurship system in establishing the infrastructure for digital transformation.
5. Applying the Metaverse virtual services in companies, financial institutions, as well as academic and research institutions as one of the outputs of artificial intelligence.
6. Enabling the use of smart devices at all levels to encourage smart generations to keep pace with today's fast-moving technology.
7. Empowerment of new positions that shape the technological century instead of traditional jobs, starting with presenting new academic disciplines.
8. Linking academic education outputs to the ladder of new jobs that serve the digital economy.
9. The launch of the Expo competition annually at the level of Arab and international countries, in conjunction with the annual celebration of Innovation Day.
10. Empowering Arab inventions and turning them into investment projects to support the local and global economy.
11. Encouraging investors and Chambers of Commerce to support inventors and innovators.
12. Empowering innovation and artificial intelligence strategies in academic institutions towards sustainable smart growth.
13. Urging the financial and funding institutions to streamline funding procedures to invest more capital, and encourage investments in innovation, artificial intelligence, and technology.
14. Empowerment of economic diversification via modern global programs towards a knowledge economy based on human capital, information technology, and artificial intelligence techniques.
15. Encouraging and empowering entrepreneurs and emerging companies to remain in the local market by simplifying the financing, administrative, and marketing procedures toward local and global economic growth.
16. Encouraging and empowering comparatively local products and services to compete with global products to support the local economy.
17. Empowerment of human capital through training and applying innovative skills and modern technologies.
18. Empowering investment in research outputs in academic institutions to raise the research and development index and take advantage of research and studies that serve the growth and development of the local economy.
19. Enabling the flow and growth of data and their analysis locally and globally by applying artificial intelligence techniques and algorithms that facilitate access to financial, economic, social, and technological data.
20. Establishing a data bank that links global, Gulf, and regional databases that are concerned with innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.