Airbus Middle East announced on Wednesday the official launch of ‘Entaliq with Airbus', following the collaboration agreement signed between Airbus Middle East and TAQNIA Aeronautics, a Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company in June 2016. The nationwide hunt for the best innovators in Saudi Arabia will begin this month, wherein all interested university students and young Saudi entrepreneurs with new business ideas or existing businesses in the aviation, space and technology sectors are invited to register and participate in the program. The new initiative from Airbus Middle East aims to challenge the Saudi youth to find the best innovative ideas that can support and advance the national and global aerospace industry. ‘Entaliq with Airbus' will roll out across Saudi Arabia in cooperation with TAQNIA Aeronautics, and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia). Interested applicants have three months to create and submit their best idea at www.entaliq-with-airbus.com. The initial phase will require users to register for online learning courses in order to train applicants in innovation and aviation. The training will consist of coaching, mentoring by aerospace experts and use of online content as well as workshops. Retired Major General Ali Alghamdi, CEO of TAQNIA Aeronautics, owned by the Public Investment Funds, said: "Across the globe Airbus works closely with local governments and communities to support the growth of new ideas and innovation. As an organization that prides itself on the promotion of technology and knowledge transfer in KSA this partnership is a natural fit for such a beneficial program. We are very excited to see this come to life." Abdulrahman bin Ghazi Altayeb, VP Fleet Management and Agreements at Saudia, said: "We are honored to contribute to the development of Saudi's aviation sector and partner with ‘Entaliq with Airbus' to nurture talent and harness the latest incubation platform. This initiative is in line with Saudia's vision (SV 2020) which is currently being implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Education through the King Abdullah Foreign scholarship program which has allocated 5000 scholarship for the study of aviation science and aircraft maintenance." He added: "Furthermore, Saudi Arabian Airlines launched a special talent management program in collaboration with SAP to improve the services provided to staff and develop the work of HR departments and achieve the strategic goals of the organization." "Entaliq with Airbus is a platform that brings multi stakeholders together to connect and exchange ideas for the development of the Saudi aviation industry," said Fouad Attar, Managing Director, Airbus Middle East. "The aim of this program is not simply to find a single winning idea, but to encourage the Saudi talent to think and create innovatively. We have a responsibility to inspire and provide opportunities for the future generations to recognize their own potential." The training will be followed by a challenge for participants to advance the national aviation sector by proposing innovative changes to existing processes, products and functions that will eventually award successful applicants with a brighter future. Shortlisted applicants will receive online and in-person coaching in aviation, innovation and business planning, as well as mentoring from industry experts and veterans. The third showcase phase of ‘Entaliq with Airbus' will see professional juries select the best ten innovations to pitch their projects to an expert VIP panel consisting of Airbus, TAQNIA Aeronautics, Saudia and other aviation industry experts. "Entaliq with Airbus" platform will manage the application process and training at venues across Saudi Arabia, and identify areas of support for the 10 shortlisted candidates, including supporting them with intellectual property registration, company formation or innovation development to ensure the ‘Entaliq with Airbus' program goes beyond merely rewarding applicants to actually incubating their ideas. Airbus, a global leader in aerospace and aircraft manufacturing, champions innovation as part of its corporate DNA. Employees across operational units contributing new business ideas to its internal incubator the Airbus Group Nursery receive support, networks and seed funds, for example. The Group also has a dedicated Innovation division and its research and development spend is among the highest in the world, averaging €3.1 billion annually. For more information on ‘Entaliq with Airbus', visit www.entaliq-with-airbus.com — SG
