(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Centre (OAPGRC) has called on citizens and residents of all nationalities in Oman, to participate in Biodiversity Ideathon, 'Manafi'. Applications for the programme need to be sent by January 25.
Organised by OAPGRC and Innovation Factory (IF), the programme Manafi will be held from February 23 to 24, stated a press release. The programme has been designed to help youth aged between 18 and 48 years to learn, build and share their business ideas within a 48hr period in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Based on their interest, skills and knowledge, each of the enrolled participants will be placed in a team of four which 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 businesspersons and scientists to get involved in 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,' Rawahi added.
OAPGRC and IF are giving Oman-based youth 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 website (www.oapgrc.gov.om).
Successful applicants will receive an interview invitation email. And, those who pass the interview will then receive an entrance confirmation email with the programme's schedule. The ideathon will be preceded by a mandatory brain storming session for all participants on February 16. During the programme qualified facilitators will be on hand at all stages to help teams get the ball rolling and push through any idea. After 48 hours teams will be given ten minutes to present their ideas to a panel of investors and incubators.
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