Airbus has announced that its ‘Entaliq in KSA’ initiative, in partnership with Taqnia Aeronautics and Saudi Arabian Airlines, has now entered its second phase during which webinars and workshops will take place till the end of March.

The content of the planned workshops and webinars have been carefully structured to arm the young entrepreneurs with key insights into the aviation industry, said a statement.

The online seminars will be presented by prominent figures in the region’s aerospace sector, and will benefit the participants by consolidating their understanding of topics that range from aircraft avionics to general engineering and maintenance to strengthening their business model canvas, it said.

The initiative, which is in its second year, represents a nationwide hunt for most talented Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs, challenging them to advance the national aerospace sector by providing innovative solutions to current industry challenges.  

The programme is specifically tailored to inspire and support entrepreneurs, who possess an idea or business model in the start-up phase. This year’s edition of the initiative saw 114 individuals sign up to join the programme, with 70 per cent of entrants being under the age of 30, it added.

Fouad Attar, head of Airbus Commercial Africa and Middle East, said: “There is no doubt that young minds are powerhouses for innovation, and this becomes increasingly evident as the initiative progresses.”

“We are committed to harnessing the powers and talents of the gifted Saudi youth, and alongside our key partners in the Kingdom, exposing them to leaders in our industry in order to facilitate the transformation of their unique visions into tangible reality,” he added.

The second edition of the initiative began in December 2017 with an open registration. Ideas and business model submissions were welcomed by individuals and teams comprising of senior tertiary students, or those who hold a higher qualification.

The first three months of 2018 mark the ‘Online and Onsite Development’ phase, which will see participants attend a series of live workshops and webinars. By the beginning of April, the top 10 finalists will be selected and the ‘Top Talent Showcase’ phase begins.

It will feature the online mentoring segment of the programme. In June, the initiative will finish with the selection of the top three winners.

The top three winners will each receive an incubation opportunity with the incubating partners of “Entaliq in KSA”, namely Rockwell Collins, Altran and Qotuf, to materialise their ideas with support from Airbus through its industrialisation facilities, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service