MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab Innovate for Refugees” Competition

MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab (MITEF Pan Arab) and the Zain Group have launched the “Innovate for Refugees” global competition, supported by the UN High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) and Jusoor, in honour of World Refugee Day. The aim of the competition is to find and reward tech-driven cutting-edge solutions that address the most acute challenges faced by refugees.

By participating in the IFR Competition, entrepreneurs will benefit on several levels: social reward by helping to alleviate the burden faced by refugees, financial reward through the prizes being offered, regional and international exposure through the media coverage that the IFR competition will be generating as well as credibility to their project if it becomes recognised by MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab, a reputable brand name in the region and beyond.

Eligibility Criteria

• MITEF Pan Arab is opening up the ‘Innovate for Refugees’ competition to participants from around the world and wants to engage and reach out to entrepreneurs, amongst them refugees
• At least two members per team
• Core product/service needs to be technology based
• Core product/service needs to address a refugee problem
• We strongly encourage teams of refugees or that include refugees to apply.

Prizes

• Four prizes of $20,000 each will be awarded to the most innovative solutions that effectively tackle challenges faced by refugees.
• Of the four prizes, two are offered by the main sponsors Zain and MBC Hope and are open to solutions across categories including healthcare, energy, food, shelter and security.
• The third is marked for an educational solution and offered by Jusoor,  an NGO established by Syrian expatriates supporting the country’s development.
• The fourth prize will be crowd funded and awarded to a solution brought forward by a refugee.
• The MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab Innovate for Refugees crowdfunding campaign launches on the Generosity by Indiegogo platform today.

Timeline

• Monday June 20, 2016: Website opens for applications
• Thursday September 1, 2016: Deadline for applications submission
• Tuesday September 20, 2016: Announcement of the 10 finalists teams
• Monday October 3, 2016: Final award ceremony

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab Innovate for Refugees” Competition