Under the organization and patronage of the University of Bahrain, College of Engineering, Bahrain IoT and AI Challenge was organized as a part of a greater regional challenge known as the Arab IoT and AI Challenge which was hosted by 12 Arab Countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia, And United Arab Emirates) alongside Bahrain.
The mission of the challenge was to adopt a national and regional capacity-building and pre-incubation program for Senior University Students and Startups that have creative ideas in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related fields. The main aim of the challenge is to enable and support the local youth and to build qualified calibers in the field by developing strategies to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of IoT, AI and their applications.
In the first edition of the Bahrain IoT and AI Challenge, 17 of graduation projects and 12 startups participated in the local challenge. In the first phase of the competition, the organizing committee organized a training program for all registered participants which focused on developing soft skills of participants to pitch their idea professionally.
During the pitching day which was held at University of Bahrain premises, participant showcased innovative projects and solutions, and presented in front of a judging team formed by expertise in the field of IoT and AI. Bahrain IoT and AI Challenge winners qualified for the next phase of the challenge: Arab IoT and AI Challenge in GITEX GLOBAL 2022, Dubai, UAE and won third place in the Startup track.
IEEE ComSoc Bahrain Chapter involved in organizing the challenge as a technical partner which was led by very active and enthusiastic IEEE ComSoC Bahrain Chapter members represented by Vice Chair Prof. Mohab Mangoud as a Challenge Chairman, and both Eng. Amna Ebrahim (PMO: Publicity/Multimedia Officer) and Eng. Mohammed Jassim (MDO & Webmaster) as Project Managers. Representatives from the chapter participated in the judging team as well by Dr. Zuhair Khalifa AlBahri (PAO), Dr. Sarah Al-Shareeda (TAO), and Dr. Mohamed AlJerjawi (Treasurer). During the closing ceremony, Eng. Wafeeq Ajoor, the Chapter Chair received an Award on behalf of IEEE ComSoc Bahrain Chapter and its contribution to the challenge.