Muscat – The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED), in cooperation with the Ministry of Education (MoE), has launched an initiative aimed at supporting young entrepreneurial talent and enabling students to transform their skills and ideas into business projects that contribute to the national economy.
The initiative focuses on identifying and developing students with creative and entrepreneurial skills, while promoting innovation and self-employment. It will conduct specialised training, practical workshops and advisory sessions to help participants turn their ideas into sustainable ventures.
Officials said the programme aims to support promising students in establishing startups, offer technical guidance to improve products and services, and boost competitiveness in the local market. It also seeks to build partnerships with public and private sector institutions to incubate and grow emerging projects.
The programme will be implemented in two phases. The first phase involves screening and selection, jointly conducted by MoE and ASMED, to identify talented students from grades 9 to 12. Targeted areas include creative and digital skills, innovation and inventions, e-commerce and financial technology.
The second phase consists of an intensive training programme combining classroom learning with practical application, along with individual consultancy sessions and preparation for investment presentations. This phase will conclude with a final presentation and an awards ceremony.
The initiative targets 100 male and female students who demonstrate creative abilities and readiness to develop independent entrepreneurial projects. Participants are required to show relevant skills, commitment to managing a business and a clear business model with a development plan.
Support offered under the initiative includes technical and advisory assistance in planning, management and marketing, as well as mentoring and incubation for selected projects. Financial support will also be provided to help participants establish their businesses and develop initial prototypes.
The initiative will be implemented at the ASMED headquarters in Muscat. Presentations of investment opportunities by participating students are scheduled for January 21, 2026, followed by the closing ceremony and awards presentation on January 22.
