Amman, Feb 15 (Petra) - Deputizing for Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), Vice Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees Marwan Juma on Sunday patronized the closing ceremony of the 15th edition of the Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Prize for 2025, in partnership with the Orange Corners Jordan program.

The ceremony was attended by PSUT President Wejdan Abu Elhaija and Vice Presidents of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) Rafat Assi and Dr. Nabeel Al-Fayoumi.

Also present were CEO of the iPARK Business Incubator Omar Hamarneh, Director of the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) at the university, Mohammad Obeidat, representatives of El Hassan Science City (EHSC) institutions, deans of faculties, and entrepreneurs from various governorates of the Kingdom.

In a speech delivered on her behalf by Abu Elhaija, Her Royal Highness said entrepreneurship has become a way of life and a practical tool to support comprehensive development and create sustainable job opportunities, in line with Royal directives to enhance innovation and partnership between the public and private sectors, empower entrepreneurs, and transform ideas into productive projects, consistent with the Economic Modernization Vision, which places innovation, entrepreneurship, and private sector growth at the heart of sustainable development.

Her Royal Highness noted that the impact of strategic partnerships has contributed to preparing startups capable of growth and expansion and supplying the national economy with innovative solutions that enhance economic resilience and competitiveness.

She affirmed, "At the Royal Scientific Society and its affiliated institutions, we attach special importance to entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity, and we stress that entrepreneurship is not merely a word spoken or a slogan raised, but a practical exercise on the ground. Through the integration of roles between the RSS, PSUT, and the iPARK Business Incubator, an integrated innovation ecosystem is formed, extending from research and scientific capacity to incubation and commercial marketing, culminating in preparing entrepreneurial competencies and leaders." She added that this integrated model reflects a long-term national commitment to building a knowledge-based economy.

Princess Sumaya pointed out that the competition is organized annually alongside Global Entrepreneurship Week, reflecting the university’s commitment to entrenching a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation and building a supportive national ecosystem to transform entrepreneurial ideas into productive and sustainable projects. She highlighted QRCE's pivotal role at the PSUT, as the first center of its kind in the Kingdom, in developing tech entrepreneurship, stimulating creative thinking, and building effective bridges between students, experts, investors, and national institutions, contributing to spreading the culture of entrepreneurship across governorates and reinforcing the concept of a knowledge-based economy.

For his part, QRCE Director noted that the center marks today 22 years since its establishment, affirming that the prize emerging from the center represents an effective national platform to discover young entrepreneurial talents and connect them with an integrated support ecosystem that contributes to accelerating the growth of startups and enhancing their readiness to enter the market.

The program also provided participants with an integrated incubation track that included specialized training, individual mentorship, and linking entrepreneurs with support networks and partners, enhancing the prospects for the success and sustainability of their projects.

iPARK Incubator Incubation Manager Sireen Dweiri explained that the incubator focuses on building entrepreneurial capacities, developing business models, and providing specialized mentorship, in addition to opening networking channels with supporting entities and strategic partners, raising the competitiveness of startups and enabling their sustainable growth.

For his part, Executive Director of the Department of Media, Communication, Innovation and Sustainability Management at Zain Jordan Tareq Al-Bitar affirmed that Zain’s support for the Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Prize embodies an extended strategic partnership with the QRCE at PSUT, based on a genuine and continuous commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in the Kingdom.

He explained that Zain’s keenness to support the prize annually stems from its belief in the importance of investing in young minds and empowering entrepreneurs to build ventures capable of growth and development, strengthening Jordan’s position as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Director of the National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES) Mo'ath Al-Alaween affirmed that the fund’s role as a supporting and training partner in the Boot Camp of the Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Prize aligns with its mission to empower entrepreneurial projects by developing their administrative and financial capacities.

He added that the fund focuses on building the capacities of entrepreneurs through specialized training and guidance according to best practices, enabling them to transform their ideas into practical and sustainable projects that contribute to economic development, create new job opportunities, and enhance youth competitiveness in local and international markets.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Her Royal Highness’s representative and the university president honored the winning teams as follows: first place went to WinnerAudiomatic.io, second place to LaserLink, and third place to Mazrite. Supporting entities and sponsors of the prize were also honored.

//Petra// AF