Now in its fourth season, Stars of Science, initiated by Qatar Foundation, is the first Pan-Arab reality-TV program dedicated to innovation, aiming to shine a spotlight on the next generation of young Arab innovators.
Following an international recruitment campaign, and a dynamic three-step selection process that includes a Pan Arab casting tour in 8 countries (Egypt / KSA / Jordan / Lebanon / UAE / Qatar / Tunisia / Kuwait), 16 young women and men of Arab origin, from different academic and professional backgrounds, are selected by a Pan Arab jury and given the chance to develop their own innovation project. This first stage (casting and final selection) will be the subject of Prime-time episodes 1 to 3.
The selected candidates are then invited to enter a specially-designed workshop, located in the heart of Qatar Science and Technology Park, in Doha, where they will have access to an array of state-of-the art resources as well as the support of top professionals.
After an inaugural session dedicated to motivation and personal development activities (Prime-time Episode 4), the 16 hopefuls will take part of a competition in successive rounds, each of them corresponding to a key stage of the innovation process:
- Proof of Concept (Prime time Episode 5, in which 10 candidates out of the 16 are selected to the next phase)
- Product Engineering (Prime time Episode 6, in which 6 candidates out of the 10 are selected to the next phase)
- Design (Prime-time Episode 7, in which 5 candidates out of the 6 candidates are selected to the next phase)
- Business & Marketing (Prime-time Episode 8, in which 4 out of the 5 candidates are selected as winners to be ranked in the Grand Finale)
Throughout the above-mentioned rounds, the evaluation of the candidates as well as of their projects and their selection is performed by juries specific to each stage of the competition, composed of permanent members and guest experts.
The 10 candidates selected out of the “Proof of Concept” phase are allowed to bring a “project partner” of their choice to support them during a phase of their choice.
The 4 candidates and projects still in competition after the “Business & Marketing” phase will go head-to-head during a Live Finale (Prime-time Episode 9) in which they will launch their product.
A grand jury present on stage and the TV viewers, through SMS and telephone, will decide on the final ranking and the granting of prizes totaling 600,000 $:
- 1st prize: 300,000 $
- 2nd prize: 150,000 $
- 3rd prize: 100,000 $
- 4th prize: 50,000 $
Daily Episodes, starting from the “Proof of Concept” phase, will give an insight on the candidate’s activities and their personalities.
Stars of Science, initiated by Qatar Foundation, is the first Pan-Arab docu-reality TV program dedicated to innovation. A unique contest shining a spotlight on the next generation of young Arab innovators.
