HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Princess Sumaya University for Technology, sponsored the closing ceremony of the 14th Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition (QRNEC) 2024, in collaboration with Orange Corners. The event was attended by the university’s president, Prof. Wejdan Abu Elhaija, representatives of El Hassan Science City institutions, deans, and a wide audience of stakeholders.

Organized annually by the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship at the university, the competition aims to empower entrepreneurs across Jordan who have moved beyond the idea stage, developed minimum viable products, and worked for at least a year, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.

In her speech, Her Highness emphasized that QRNEC is more than an award—it is a platform to showcase creative minds shaping Jordan’s future. She highlighted Jordan’s resilience, strong leadership, and ambitious youth, who turn challenges into opportunities.

Her Highness noted that the competition, hosted by the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship since its establishment in 2004, reflects this vision. She stressed that entrepreneurship extends beyond technology to fields like education, health, environment, and energy, contributing to quality of life and sustainable development.

Princess Sumaya also underscored the importance of a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, highlighting the role of national institutions such as the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship, the iPARK Business Incubator, and El Hassan Science City in helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful ventures.

Mohammad Obeidat, Director of the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship at the university, stated that the incubation program aims to build skills, support business growth, provide networking opportunities, and offer training and mentorship to strengthen Jordan’s startup ecosystem.

He noted that 40 teams reached the final stage, with three winners selected by a 16-member jury. Over the course of a year, participants received training from 12 trainers and 24 mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills, refine their business plans, and present innovative technology-driven ideas and projects.

Eng. Serene Duwayri, Director of Incubation at iPARK, emphasized the importance of supporting entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth and job creation for Jordanian youth. She noted that the competition plays a vital role in fostering innovation and strengthening Jordan’s startup ecosystem.

Duwayri added that iPARK Business Incubator will continue supporting programs that help young entrepreneurs realize their ambitions and bring competitive, innovative projects to the market.

Tareq Albitar, Director of Corporate Communications, Sustainability, and Innovation at Zain Jordan, highlighted the award as one of Jordan’s leading annual initiatives, providing young entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their projects and expand their businesses. He emphasized the long-standing strategic partnership between Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) and the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship, which aims to empower youth and strengthen Jordan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At the closing ceremony, Her Highness honored the winning teams: OrganicG secured first place, Designer Little took second, while Payknit and Wonders of the Orient shared third. She also recognized the award’s sponsors and supporters.

The award was organized in cooperation with Orange Corners, supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands, and implemented by iPARK Business Incubator and Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship. Strategic partners included Zain Innovation Platform (ZINC), AstraZeneca, and Union Bank, with the National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES) as the training camp partner.