Monday 09 / February / 2026
Muscat: : HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, today presented awards to the winning teams of the "Ideas Makers - Hamat" program, affiliated to Oman Investment Authority. This took place at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of “Together Forward” forum.
The program is a national initiative built on challenges derived from actual needs across various sectors, enabling the transformation of real-world challenges into innovation opportunities and applicable technological solutions.
In the Corporate Track, first place was awarded to the "Mubiin for Solutions" team for their smart data receivers that provide an accurate picture of water networks. Second place went to the "Azdara" team for their innovation of an organic product capable of preventing chemical compounds from inhibiting seed growth. Third place was secured by the "Rabt" team for their asset tracking device that addresses and analyzes challenges.
In the Governorates Track, first place was won by the "Al-Neim Camp" team, which presents an innovative model blending terrestrial tourism with interactive experiences. Second place was awarded to the "Wa'oub" team, specializing in model farms for agritourism in the mountains of Musandam Governorate. Third place was granted to the "Dar Al-Qaydh" team, a project to revive agricultural and touristic identity.
In the Research and Universities Track, first place went to the "Digital Twin" team for their project converting solar energy into a digital twin system for prediction, monitoring, and rapid decision-making. Second place was secured by the "Sultan Qaboos University" team for their project using precise inspection devices controlled via a drone. Third place was awarded to the "Mohammad Mahyub" team for their project of a drone vehicle operating inside high-pressure pipes to avoid obstacles.
The implementation of the "Hamat" programme was carried out in partnership with the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers and encompassed all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. It aims to enhance the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem while contributing to enabling administrative and economic decentralization in the governorates.
The programme was designed with integrated phases, starting with the preliminary project screening in the governorates during January 2026, followed by the training camp phase for project development from February 1 to 7, then the "Together Forward" forum phase on February 8 and 9, culminating in the phase for implementing ideas and developing prototypes from April to December 2026.
The current edition of the "Hamat" program witnessed extensive participation, exceeding 1,413 teams of innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and employees from across Oman's governorates. This competitive participation reflected strong interest and contributed to enhancing the quality and diversity of the solutions presented.
The participating teams went through several competitive stages, with 90 teams selected for the training camp phase, from which 38 teams qualified for the incubation phase. Among these, 9 teams qualified for the "Together Forward" forum based on an evaluation focusing on solution quality, scalability, and relevance to targeted needs. The qualifying teams moved on to advanced support stages within the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, contributing to linking innovative solutions with development and application opportunities and transforming ideas into value-added projects.
The program also included a new category represented by employees capable of developing innovative solutions. This step aims to leverage practical expertise within institutions, stimulate innovation from within work environments, and link operational knowledge with implementable technological solutions.
The organization of the program was based on an integrated supportive ecosystem, including partnerships with academic institutions, companies affiliated to Oman Investment Authority, government units, and the community. This reinforced the integration of efforts and connected innovative projects with the actual needs of various sectors.
