Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) helps students and community members acquire the tools, develop the skills and cultivate the mindset of an entrepreneur so that they may create economic and social value throughout the world.
Higher education institutions have been increasingly recognizing the important tasks of mobilizing graduates for entrepreneurial careers, enhancing their entrepreneurial skills, and providing support for business start-up. At AU, we believe an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset fosters an intellectual confidence that empowers and inspires creative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. That is why AU established the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) to actively engage in supporting entrepreneurship through developing the students’ innovative thinking process and enable novel ideas to be converted into successful commercial ventures.
Mission
To foster a culture of innovation, empower entrepreneurs, inspire entrepreneurship, and accelerate startups to achieve sustainable growth and success to drive economic growth.
Services
- Startup support
- Guide AU students in the process of developing their business ideas and startups.
- Providing mentorship and support for AU students.
- Business Development services
- Advising on business planning, marketing, and strategies.
- Assist AU students with building business models.
- Mentorship and coaching
- Connecting AU students with successful entrepreneurs and experienced business mentors.
- Arrange workshops and seminars to raise AU students’ awareness in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Networking opportunities
- Organize events like the innovation and entrepreneurship Forum “Lead your future” where entrepreneurs meet investors, business leaders, researcher, and other startups.
- Copyrights and patents
- Help AU students register copyrights and patents to protect their intellectual property.
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) hosts an annual forum “Lead Your Future.” The goal of this forum is to encourage the students to present their creative and innovative business ideas and invest in the brightest minds of AU students from (College of Engineering, College of business, Aviation School, and Maritime department) to create a platform of inventors and talented students. Which will enhance the Kuwaiti economy.
To evaluate the presentations of the participating teams, the Center forms a judging panel of both internal and external judges to maintain fairness and impartiality while evaluating the teams. After the participants are done with their presentations and the judging panel evaluate each team, the winners get announced. The top 3 high ranking teams are awarded trophies and monetary rewards.
Everyone from the AU community is welcome to attend the forum, whether it be: faculty, staff, students or even parents. This forum benefits not only the AU community, but also the upcoming young generations of Kuwait. Every year, High School students are invited to attend the forum and tour AU campus to get full university experience. This helps in raising their entrepreneurial knowledge.
Lead Your Future – Fall 2024
Lead Your Future – Fall 2023
The Australian University (AU) is a well-established, modern, and innovative University; indeed, we are a driving force for positive change. As a university, we educate, research, create, and impart knowledge. “Excellence in Making a Difference” is our strategic objective and continuing the legacy of AU to build an academic institution that will enable the human potential within a culture of care.
An entrepreneurial culture is a foundation to any economy and society, small and midsize enterprises – SMEs are important contributors to local and global economic development.
Australian University (AU) has established itself as a leader in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, underpinned by its forward-thinking vision and mission.
To be part of The “New Kuwait” development plan intends to transform Kuwait into a financial, cultural, and institutional leader in the region by 2035) and to participate in achieving AU’s strategy that aims to maintain a sustainable working and learning environment and contribute to Kuwait’s economic growth, CIE established (AU Valley) which is home to many AU students enterprises that considered a leading hub and an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship center- CIE At – AU
To achieve CIE mission, we established (AU Valley) to nurture a secure ecosystem for creativity and entrepreneurship at AU. This holistic approach underscores AU’s commitment to being at the forefront of academic innovation and entrepreneurial leadership.
AU valley plays a key role in nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among the AU community. This support extends beyond just business development; it includes mentorship, access to resources, and networking opportunities.
In its quest to fully align academic learning with real-world industrial demands, the CIE regularly conducts workshops in tandem with industry leaders, thereby enhancing students’ comprehension of market trends and necessities.
In its forward journey, AU is keen on deepening its integration of entrepreneurial activities within the broader market framework. Key to this endeavor is the establishment of legal entities for students to register and manage their IPs effectively.
Objectives:
- Create a supportive environment for AU students’ startups, with incubators, and startup hubs to provide them with mentorship and consultations.
- AU Valley aims to boast an entrepreneurial ecosystem via searching for angel investors, and investment firms willing to fund AU student’s promising startups.
- Create networking events, workshops, meetings, and conferences to seek opportunities for AU entrepreneurs by connecting, collaborating, and learning from industry leaders and peers.
- Fosters a culture of innovation and risk-taking, where failure is a tool to enhance experiences and encourages entrepreneurs to think big.
- Invest in some of the brightest minds of AU students from (College of Engineering, College of business, Aviation School, and Maritime department) to create inventors and skilled talent platform.
AU Valley Booklet – Fall 2023
AU Valley – Fall 2024
CIE is offering a new service to help AU students to submit all the requirements and the forms to register copyright certificates.
The center will endeavor to create a legal entity for the students and acquire certificates for their innovative ideas and inventions to be managed and protected.
So far, CIE has registered (9) copyright certificates for AU students.
You can now register for a copyright by directly filling this form:
Seminar: How to Discover and Obtain a Patent – November 2024
On November 3rd, CIE invited Dr. Naser Alsayegh, Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Kuwait University and Associate Research Scientist at the Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials program in Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, to lead a seminar titled “How to Discover and Obtain a Patent?” Dr. Naser Alsayegh, a recipient of several national and international awards with four accepted U.S. patents.
This seminar aimed to guide students and researchers on the steps to discover and secure patents in a simple yet interesting way, help them identify and discover potential inventions from the everyday challenges, introduce the basics of patents and the mindset of an inventor.
Furthermore, high school students attended the seminar, after being given the opportunity to tour AU campus and get the full university experience.
Meeting with Section Patent – Ministry of Commerce and Industry – September 2024
On September 23rd, CIE arranged a meeting between AU board members and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, represented by Eng. Rashid Alowaihan—Head of Section Patent.
This resulted in strategies to support AU students in protecting their ideas and incorporating them into successful businesses.
External Conference: MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum – April 2024
AU and CIE, represented by Dr. Bashayer AlKhalifah have been invited to participate in the “MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum – 2024” in Dubai, after her paper has been approved to be published. This forum is organized by the Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge Solutions (CLICKS).
This forum discusses emerging developments, trends, and issues of major common concern to both global and regional higher education sectors and set future directions for higher education. Sharing dialogue of common interest among participants in the region will widen our perspective in teaching, giving vivid examples in the classroom and engaging more with our students.
Listening and interacting with members of governing bodies of different regional and global universities, colleges, representatives from ministries of higher education, and policy makers will give us the opportunity to expand our contacts list and networking which will benefit the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and AU in the future.
External Program: Kontinue – Loyac Program – February 2023
AU students who participated in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship competition have joined the LOYAC – Kontinue Social Entrepreneurship Program delivered by Prof. Philip Kim – Professor of Entrepreneurship in collaboration with BABSON College (free of charge). The program commenced on 7th January till 21st February 2023.
- Lead Your Future
-
The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) hosts an annual forum “Lead Your Future.” The goal of this forum is to encourage the students to present their creative and innovative business ideas and invest in the brightest minds of AU students from (College of Engineering, College of business, Aviation School, and Maritime department) to create a platform of inventors and talented students. Which will enhance the Kuwaiti economy.
To evaluate the presentations of the participating teams, the Center forms a judging panel of both internal and external judges to maintain fairness and impartiality while evaluating the teams. After the participants are done with their presentations and the judging panel evaluate each team, the winners get announced. The top 3 high ranking teams are awarded trophies and monetary rewards.
Everyone from the AU community is welcome to attend the forum, whether it be: faculty, staff, students or even parents. This forum benefits not only the AU community, but also the upcoming young generations of Kuwait. Every year, High School students are invited to attend the forum and tour AU campus to get full university experience. This helps in raising their entrepreneurial knowledge.
Lead Your Future – Fall 2024
Lead Your Future – Fall 2023
- AU Valley
-
The Australian University (AU) is a well-established, modern, and innovative University; indeed, we are a driving force for positive change. As a university, we educate, research, create, and impart knowledge. “Excellence in Making a Difference” is our strategic objective and continuing the legacy of AU to build an academic institution that will enable the human potential within a culture of care.
An entrepreneurial culture is a foundation to any economy and society, small and midsize enterprises – SMEs are important contributors to local and global economic development.
Australian University (AU) has established itself as a leader in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, underpinned by its forward-thinking vision and mission.
To be part of The “New Kuwait” development plan intends to transform Kuwait into a financial, cultural, and institutional leader in the region by 2035) and to participate in achieving AU’s strategy that aims to maintain a sustainable working and learning environment and contribute to Kuwait’s economic growth, CIE established (AU Valley) which is home to many AU students enterprises that considered a leading hub and an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship center- CIE At – AU
To achieve CIE mission, we established (AU Valley) to nurture a secure ecosystem for creativity and entrepreneurship at AU. This holistic approach underscores AU’s commitment to being at the forefront of academic innovation and entrepreneurial leadership.
AU valley plays a key role in nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among the AU community. This support extends beyond just business development; it includes mentorship, access to resources, and networking opportunities.
In its quest to fully align academic learning with real-world industrial demands, the CIE regularly conducts workshops in tandem with industry leaders, thereby enhancing students’ comprehension of market trends and necessities.
In its forward journey, AU is keen on deepening its integration of entrepreneurial activities within the broader market framework. Key to this endeavor is the establishment of legal entities for students to register and manage their IPs effectively.
Objectives:
- Create a supportive environment for AU students’ startups, with incubators, and startup hubs to provide them with mentorship and consultations.
- AU Valley aims to boast an entrepreneurial ecosystem via searching for angel investors, and investment firms willing to fund AU student’s promising startups.
- Create networking events, workshops, meetings, and conferences to seek opportunities for AU entrepreneurs by connecting, collaborating, and learning from industry leaders and peers.
- Fosters a culture of innovation and risk-taking, where failure is a tool to enhance experiences and encourages entrepreneurs to think big.
- Invest in some of the brightest minds of AU students from (College of Engineering, College of business, Aviation School, and Maritime department) to create inventors and skilled talent platform.
AU Valley Booklet – Fall 2023
AU Valley – Fall 2024
- Register Your Copyright
-
CIE is offering a new service to help AU students to submit all the requirements and the forms to register copyright certificates.
The center will endeavor to create a legal entity for the students and acquire certificates for their innovative ideas and inventions to be managed and protected.
So far, CIE has registered (9) copyright certificates for AU students.
You can now register for a copyright by directly filling this form:
- CIE Events
-
Seminar: How to Discover and Obtain a Patent – November 2024
On November 3rd, CIE invited Dr. Naser Alsayegh, Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Kuwait University and Associate Research Scientist at the Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials program in Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, to lead a seminar titled “How to Discover and Obtain a Patent?” Dr. Naser Alsayegh, a recipient of several national and international awards with four accepted U.S. patents.
This seminar aimed to guide students and researchers on the steps to discover and secure patents in a simple yet interesting way, help them identify and discover potential inventions from the everyday challenges, introduce the basics of patents and the mindset of an inventor.
Furthermore, high school students attended the seminar, after being given the opportunity to tour AU campus and get the full university experience.
Meeting with Section Patent – Ministry of Commerce and Industry – September 2024
On September 23rd, CIE arranged a meeting between AU board members and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, represented by Eng. Rashid Alowaihan—Head of Section Patent.
This resulted in strategies to support AU students in protecting their ideas and incorporating them into successful businesses.
External Conference: MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum – April 2024
AU and CIE, represented by Dr. Bashayer AlKhalifah have been invited to participate in the “MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum – 2024” in Dubai, after her paper has been approved to be published. This forum is organized by the Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge Solutions (CLICKS).
This forum discusses emerging developments, trends, and issues of major common concern to both global and regional higher education sectors and set future directions for higher education. Sharing dialogue of common interest among participants in the region will widen our perspective in teaching, giving vivid examples in the classroom and engaging more with our students.
Listening and interacting with members of governing bodies of different regional and global universities, colleges, representatives from ministries of higher education, and policy makers will give us the opportunity to expand our contacts list and networking which will benefit the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and AU in the future.
External Program: Kontinue – Loyac Program – February 2023
AU students who participated in the Innovation & Entrepreneurship competition have joined the LOYAC – Kontinue Social Entrepreneurship Program delivered by Prof. Philip Kim – Professor of Entrepreneurship in collaboration with BABSON College (free of charge). The program commenced on 7th January till 21st February 2023.