KUWAIT: More than 160 inventors from 30 countries will be participating in the 8th International Invention Fair in the Middle East that is scheduled to hold in Kuwait from November 16 - 19, 2015 at the Kuwait Science Club (KSC). This was announced during the press conference held on Wednesday. Out of the 160 investors, 20 are from Kuwait. The number of inventors and the countries participating in this Fair increased this year.

"For the first time we have participants from six continents participating in the Invention Fair. In the past, we were paying for the inventors to participate, and since the last two years, the inventors are paying to participate. This Fair has become the second biggest fair for inventions in the world after the Geneva Fair, and the biggest in the region," said Ahmad Al-Manfouhi, Chairman of KSC. "This is the first year the inventions will be manufactured - and ready for sell and display. For the first time, all displayed inventions will be new, and there will be duplicated inventions. Furthermore, all inventors will have their inventions registered - with patent rights," he added.

One of the main goals of this Fair is to market the inventions that were displayed in this Fair. "Through this Fair, we aim to support and help the inventors to sell their inventions and make people benefit from them. For this reason we have invited many people to attend and meet the inventors to see the inventions and get live demonstration. The Fair will also include various symposiums and lectures," Al-Manfouhi explained.

More prizes will be given for the winners this year. "The KSC will present 15 thousand dollars; the Organizing Committee -10 thousand dollars; GCC Patents Office Prize of Saudi Riyal - 50 thousand dollars; Geneva Fair Prize - $5000; prize of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) - $5000; Gulf Inventors Prize - $1000 and four prizes presented by the World Intellectual Property Organization," stated Dr Khalid Al-Fadhel, Head of the Science Committee.

The Judging Committee was formed from international experts. "The prizes will go to the winners of gold medals with honor. After that, the inventors will be divided into categories. There will be gold, silver, and bronze medals. World Intellectual Property Organization will give a prize for the youngest inventor; best male and best female inventors and for best invention," he said.

Al-Manfouhi thanked HH the Amir for his support. "This Fair is held under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who has been supporting this fair since it started. I also appreciate the hard work of the young volunteers who are working with us. I would like to thank the sponsors - especially our main partner KFAS, sponsors Zain, Amerikana, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Islamic Development Bank, Awqaf Secretary General, Kuwait Cable and Elec Ind and both the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Information," he concluded.

By Nawara Fattahova, Staff Writer