Kuwait city: Participation in the 16th Middle East International Invention Exhibition supports Gulf inventors, helps open wider paths, and creates links with investment opportunities, said GCC Patent Office official Majed Al-Rafeeq. In a statement to KUNA on Tuesday, Al-Rafeeq stated that the GCC General Secretariat is participating this year with six inventors, noting the exhibition features more than 200 inventors.
According to Kuwait News Agency, this participation reflects its role as a platform bringing together diverse ideas and technologies and enables knowledge exchange among participants and innovation stakeholders. Al-Rafeeq added that the GCC Patent Office has allocated three awards to be presented to winners on the exhibition's final day, as part of the Secretariat's support for Gulf innovators and efforts to strengthen their presence in specialized scientific events.
This year's exhibition theme, "Bringing Investors Together with Inventors," aligns with the goal of supporting and marketing innovations by offering an environment where inventors can present projects to investors and interested parties and turn ideas into scalable opportunities, Al-Rafeeq remarked.
In a similar statement, Kuwaiti inventor Siham Abdullah Al-Otaibi highlighted the importance of her innovation, a "Medical Sterilization and Healthcare Bed," in providing advanced preventive and treatment solutions against viruses and bacteria. She said the idea emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed into a comprehensive tool to help prevent bacterial threats in preventive medicine and burn treatment.
Qatari inventor Mohsen Al-Sheikh presented his innovation, the "Mahallat Smart E-Commerce Platform," which allows shop owners to launch stores instantly via barcode technology without photographing products, while providing a large image inventory to facilitate digital transformation. Al-Sheikh said the platform features a "smart early-warning system" to alert users when products are nearing expiry to protect public health and reduce waste.
Bahraini inventor Dr. Omaima Al-Abbasi presented her innovation, a "Passive Cooling System Using Perforated Clay Bricks Reinforced with Palm Fibers," offering a solution for regulating building temperatures in hot climates by integrating locally available natural materials. Al-Abbasi said the system achieved a surface temperature reduction of nearly 20 degrees Celsius at peak summer.
To serve the visually impaired, Emirati inventor Aisha Al-Zarouni showcased her innovation, a "Touch-Based Electronic Text Reading Device," in the form of a smart glove equipped with a Braille cell. Al-Zarouni said the device operates through a mobile application that converts text into Braille signals sent to the glove for reading by touch.
Omani inventor Khaled Al-Durmeki presented a "Smart Electrical Distribution Panel," describing it as a shift through "selective protection" technology that disconnects power only from the faulty circuit while ensuring the rest of the system remains operational. Al-Durmeki said the panel enhances safety standards and meets smart-city requirements via a control unit.
Saudi inventor Mansour Ali Al-Qarni participated with an "Acoustic Performance Testing Device" designed to train broadcasters and content creators. Al-Qarni said the device analyzes a trainee's voice to determine suitability for radio and television use, helping professionals refine vocal skills.