The Made In Jordan Competition launched its arbitration committee tasked with the evaluation of projects and innovations participating in the Competition. The committee, on 1st July 2009, convened at the El Hassan Science City to specify the foundations and basic yardsticks for appraisal of the practical and technical aspects to be taken into account when selecting the qualifying projects. Arbitration occurs on 11 July 2009; the results announcement, however, will take place during the award ceremony under the patronage of H.E. Amer Al-Hadidi, the Minister of Industry and Trade scheduled on 29 July 2009.

The arbitration committee comprises of Dr. Ibrahim Rawabdeh of Amman Chamber of Industry, Dr. Ahmad Al-Gazzawi of Triupharma, Dr. Usamah Rabadi of iPark, Dr. Ahmad al-Manasrah of the Sanad Company for Islamic Investments, Engineer Jamil al-Khatib of SRTD, and Engineer Imad Yard of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD).

It is to be noted that the Made In Jordan Competition was introduced in June 2008 under the sponsorship of Al-Hadidi with the KAFD providing a generous support and the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) offering organization services. The above-referenced Competition aims to spread innovation and creativity in Jordan and the region through directing individuals and researchers’ inventions and scientific research centers towards developing engineering and software prototypes that offer practical solutions to the region’s technological and industrial problems that will result in producing modern technologies with high market value.

The made in Jordan Competition is part of the Made in the Arab World Competition, organized by the Arab Foundation For Science and Technology. The qualifying projects and inventions from several Arab states will compete for the final selection of the winning invention or project in a ceremony to be held in Cairo in October 2009 under the patronage of H.E. Amr Moussa, the Secretary General of the Arab States.

The said Competition boosts linkage between universities and industry as it requires university students participating in the university graduation projects category to acquire consultative, technical, or financial support from a company or manufacturer. The Competition has also assisted in developing the participants’ technical and entrepreneurial skills through specialized training that enables them to come up with creative and innovative ideas that meet market needs.

The Made In Jordan Competition is organized by the QRCE, which is the entrepreneurial arm of the El Hassan Science City, whose mission is to support knowledge-based economy growth by making available an assortment of programs aiming at the development of entrepreneurship and marketing technology.