TRA Hosts the Second Edition of the ‘ALECSO Apps Award’

13 November 2016: Within the activities of the Innovation Week 2016, The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) hosts the Second Edition of the ‘ALECSO Apps Award’ in cooperation with the Arab League Education, Culture and Science Organization (ALECSO), which will be held on 19 November 2016 in the Address Dubai Marina Hotel.

This award aims to evaluate smart applications in the Arab world, and award the developers of best Arabic applications in four areas: education, culture, science and educational games, in addition to two special awards. This initiative falls within the framework of a wider project implemented by ALECSO, aims to provide the necessary technological and institutional environment for contribution in the emergence of the Arab applications industry for smart phones and tablets.

Commenting on this event, and on the role of TRA, H.E Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General said: ‘TRA is proud of its regional role and influence in spreading the culture of innovation and leadership in the region. This would be through the Emirati model, which has become an example of creative work and leading achievements. Moreover, we are pleased to receive our Arab brothers to learn from the country’s experiences and institutions in different innovation fields. From this point, we welcome the hosting of this Award, and confirm the mutual vision between TRA and ALECSO in all aspects related to the empowerment of Arab youth, supporting their talents, skills and competencies and directing them to serve a sustainable and comprehensive development. This vision is in line with the directives of UAE wise leadership concerning the development of youth capabilities on local and Arab levels in the field of telecommunication and information technology and artificial intelligence, which is considered an essential pillar of economic, information and urban development.’

H.E Al Mansoori added: ‘Through this award, we want to emphasize on the Arab youth capability of innovation, development and provision of creative solutions if availed with opportunity and support. We are confident that enhancing the competition spirit and creating opportunities to meet and interact positively would have an active role in building a new generation of innovators and Arab creators, whom would enrich the global development movement of the smart applications sector in the world.’

The competition stages:

Prior to the major event of the competition, a series of competitions take place on the level of each country, where the Jury evaluates the participants’ apps on the level of each Arab country separately, and chose the best app in each of the four categories of the competition. The developers of the winning apps will be honored nationally.

After that comes the stage of the Greater Arab Competition, where the winning apps in each country are nominated for the Greater Arab Competition. The Jury choses among the nominated apps the best app in each area of the competition areas.

The Awards:

The winner of each of the four categories is awarded 10,000 USD. In addition to two special awards of 5,000 USD, which are the Public Award for the nominated app that receives the highest number of votes in the electronic voting system on the website, and the Jury Award for excellence and innovation. The Jury as well as the organization partners can proposes other awards.

Additional activities:

The list of activities related to the competition and winners’ announcement includes organizing two training workshops for school students on developing Arab apps, and on programing through playing or developing smart apps based on games.

The ALECSO Apps Award’s mission is ‘Arab Applications with Arab Competencies, Support Entrepreneurship and Contribute to the Consolidation of Identity’. The Award aims to discover, recognize and support young Arab talents and innovators. It assists them in all technical and procedural aspects, giving them opportunity to become more creative and innovative.