Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (Dafza) will be the Premium Sponsor of the inaugural edition of the upcoming Innovation Challenge taking place as part of Expo Milan 2015 early next month.

The event, running from October 9 to 11, will gather talented and innovative developers, designers and entrepreneurs from around the world to create purpose-driven technologies for solving various global challenges.

Participants in the competition will work on a real-life case study related to innovation within the food industry value chain especially prepared by Dafza for the event. They will also join skill sessions related to coding, design thinking, pitching and inspirational sessions delivered by industry experts and will develop, then pitch technology-driven solutions related to Expo Milan’s theme of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.’. High-impact and scalable solutions must be built in less than 72 hours.

The winning team will be awarded up to EUR20,000 and then undergo incubation and mentorship provided by top European incubation hubs for six months. Participation in the competition is free.

Dafza will also have the opportunity to create a link between this year’s World Expo and the 2020 edition which Dubai will host. Dafza will discuss its crucial role in attracting foreign investments and energizing Dubai’s economy as well as Dubai’s numerous business and investment advantages such as a strategic geographic location, business-friendly regulations, entrepreneurship incubation, and support for start-ups.

Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, director general, Dafza said: “Our key participation at the Expo 2015 Innovation Challenge will enable us to directly support global efforts towards innovation, particularly those that positively impact the global food supply chain in keeping with the expo’s theme of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.’”

“We will also be able to strategically position our organization within the international innovation ecosystem and actively participate in our region’s efforts to find the best solutions to our food security issues.

“Moreover, Expo Milan 2015 overall is an ideal platform for us to share Dafza’s contributions to Dubai’s growth, the benefits we offer to investors and entrepreneurs, and Dubai’s status as a technology-empowered global commercial hub. Finally, this year’s World Expo will provide us with insights and ideas on how to better prepare for Expo 2020 which Dubai will host,” he added.

The Expo 2015 Innovation Challenge is powered by “The Sandbox, The D. Company”, an international youth start-up working with open innovation. The Sandbox brings together talented members from our diverse community and organizations from the public and the private sectors to tackle challenges, collaborate on ideas, learn and share new tools and co-create tangible solutions. – TradeArabia News Service