Innovation in recent years has become a synonym for global renaissance, development and competitiveness and has become the focus of a global innovation summit. Dubai hosted the 2017 and 2018 editions of this unique summit, where more than 2,000 innovators gathered to talk sustainable energy, smart cities, education, healthcare, transportation, industry and other development sectors.
Innovation is a cornerstone of the positive socioeconomic change through hi-tech. The applications of science around us are enough to tell us about the value and place of innovation in our lives. Innovation is a culture not for the few, but for the many, especially the young people.
Innovation is the process that unleashes technology and directs the energies of creativity. The task of concerned institutions is to provide the frameworks that enable or create the environment conducive to high-efficiency innovation capable of transforming ideas into real creative works.
Innovation is also a global competitive indicator. Countries are ranked according to this indicator in terms of institutional frameworks supporting the culture of innovation and the availability of legislative and administrative systems and infrastructure supporting and stimulating the innovation environment. In a more precise sense, it is a criterion for the efficiency of development plans and policies, especially toward knowledge economy. This explains why various countries are seeking progress and development through investment in human resources and attention to the talented, creative innovators by providing platforms for creativity and by transforming the government sector into a strong competitor for the private sector as well as a partner.
In the Kingdom of Bahrain, a promising innovation culture is rising and spreading the culture of innovation has been a priority for the government. Whether it’s AI or other exponential technologies, creative ideas can become reality if they have the right environment. This is what the Kingdom of Bahrain is doing now, providing the necessary platforms to discover creators and innovators in society. A new platform is Fikra, the innovation competition dedicated to employees of the government sector recently launched by His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander First Deputy Prime Minister.
The aim of this competition is to link various initiatives and programs adopted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in various sectors of development and services, toward achieving the visions and directives set by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. This means that the Kingdom of Bahrain has adopted a culture of innovation and creativity as a major engine of the economy and a mechanism for the development of government work, an important motor for development in the Kingdom and other countries. The knowledge culture is a vital pillar to implement the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and strengthen the Kingdom’s regional and global competitiveness.
Such competitions are institutional support mechanisms providing platforms for capacity building and innovations in different fields, in the interest of building the country and enhancing its competitiveness in sustainable development. Development is no longer only the responsibility of governments and does not come from the top of the pyramid, but it is the responsibility of employees who are well aware of the challenges and are able to find innovative solutions and alternatives within a highly competitive context.
When innovation becomes an institutional work and ambitious economic visions put competitiveness at the top of government priorities, challenges can turn into opportunities and achievements and more prosperity is guaranteed for present and future generations.
The Fikra Competition is a national platform adding value to the development and modernization of Bahrain, helping the culture of innovation to spread into a sustainable lifestyle and a key driver of the national economy..
