HE Senator Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh inaugurated Startup Incubation Quarter (SIQ) at the University of Petra (UOP). UOP President Prof. Marwan Muwalla, UOP Chancellor Prof. Adnan Badran, PEDC General Manager Eng. Mazen Muhammad Al-Ansari, UOP Vice-President Prof. Mohammed Anani, deans of faculties, and directors of UOP Units and Departments attended the inauguration ceremony.
Prof. Muwalla said: “We established the Innovation Center at the Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) several years ago and today we celebrate opening SIQ that has incubated various pilot projects by FAFS students. SIQ is an acronym that refers to the undying achievements of the Nabataean Kingdom that show their determination to modify stones and express their vision and talents.”
“We aspire and strive to link between students’ projects incubated by SIQ and businessmen and investors in light of the economic, productive and developmental reality and needs. That step aims to convert students’ projects to usable products that drive economic development in Jordan,” Prof. Muwalla added.
During the Inauguration ceremony, the students presented SIQ-supported projects, such as: IT applications and knowledge projects that provide technical services to individuals. The inauguration ceremony attendants visited the Innovation Center at FIT.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his pride and optimism in these projects that could help in transformation to knowledge-based economy. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stressed that it is significant to convert these projects to usable products that might provide many solutions to economic challenges Jordan encounters and that he is confident that Jordan's future would be brighter under the leadership and guidance of King Abdallah II Bin Al Hussein. At the same time, Dr. Abu Ghazaleh referred to the key role played by universities in supporting scientific research and directing and supporting students' projects.
