Buoyed by the drivers of success that include the adoption of high-tech ecosystems, technology firms in the region are fast yielding a generation of successful entrepreneurs, said experts at a seminar organised by Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO).

Titled ‘Opportunities and Challenges in Building Technology Companies in the Mena region’, the seminar marked DSO’s eighth successive year at Gitex, said a top official of the integrated free zone technology park.

Ray Milhem, chief technology officer - DSO Authority, said: “It is a privilege to host seminars that highlight key industry trends and ask the relevant questions. We believe professionals from the region’s largest technology players benefited from the perspectives shared by our speakers who are involved in cutting-edge work.'

According to him, the event drew representatives from several leading ICT companies.

'We are confident the personal and professional expertise discussed at the seminar will contribute to a better understanding of the current market conditions, its overall challenges and rewarding opportunities,' he added.

In his keynote address, Dr Usama Fayyad, executive chairman of Oasis 500, tackled the lack of venture capital funding in the Mena region, reflecting on his past ventures, the challenges he faced and the alternatives he chose to develop his entrepreneurial ventures into successful businesses.

Dr Mojy Chian, senior VP Design Enablement Global Foundries, stressed on the significance of building efficient ecosystems to manage the technology needs of modern day lifestyles.

He also highlighted the pressures facing the Semiconductor industry today from both the design and manufacturing perspectives.

Taking Dr Chian’s perspective forward in a subsequent session during the seminar, Rich Goldman, vice-president, Corporate Marketing from Synopsys - US, said innovation could be strengthened in the Mena region by providing tools, as well as enhancing educational system to be inline with the needs of the industry and forging strategic partnerships.

He said Synopsys’ commitment to the region would be articulated through its focus on supporting the building of a technology ecosystem.

"Synopsys is also investing in higher education institutes in the Mena region to ensure long-term sustainability," he added.

Faysal Sohail, managing director, Energy & Materials and Information Technology at CMEA Capital; Wayne Hull, director and general manager for Cisco - UAE; Dr John Waclawsky, ex-chief software architect, Motorola, US; Marvin Blough, vice-president of Worldwide Sales of SonicWall, Dr Hazem El Tahawy, managing director of Mentor Graphics - Egypt, and Jeremy Foster, head of Government and Industry Relations for Ericsson MEA.-TradeArabia News Service