GITEX Edge to inject innovation in GITEX Technology Week

Propelling innovation, GITEX Technology Week is bolstering its programme with a series of innovative new features and competitions as a part of its GITEX Edge segment. Set to be one of the most prominent elements of this new direction is the Middle East’s largest ever gadget awards, which are already capturing the imagination of technology fans across the region.

From smartphones and tablets to TVs, audio equipment and beyond, the GITEX Hot Stuff Awards, powered by Stuff magazine, celebrate the most desirable, exciting and innovative consumer electronic products currently or soon to be available in the region. The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm on Saturday 14 September, 2013. The awards are open to all GITEX Technology Week exhibitors, as well as any technology brands in the region keen to make a mark.

A panel composed of leading technology experts will sift through the entries to shortlist the top ten best gadgets. Each of these will feature on GITEX Technology Week’s website (gitex.com), the October edition of Stuff magazine, and the Stuff website (stuffmideast.com). The gadgets will also get prime positioning in display cases from October 20 to 24 at the GITEX Hot Stuff Awards 2013 stand, located in the Consumer Hall of the exhibition. From October 1 to 22, members of the public and GITEX Technology Week attendees can vote on their favourite gadget from the top ten. The winner will be decided in equal measure by the expert judges and the general public.

“GITEX Technology Week is one of the world’s leading ICT events, which makes it the perfect host to make this competition a smash hit,” said Thomas Shambler, Editor, Stuff Middle East. “Our panel will pick real winners – the GITEX Hot Stuff Awards 2013 will only feature products that all gadget fans will love,” Shambler said.

The mounting excitement surrounding the awards is understandable given the region’s immense enthusiasm for consumer electronics. According to Business Monitor International’s UAE Retail Report Q2 2013, consumer electronics sales are estimated to soar 63% from USD4.06 billion to USD6.62 billion by 2017.

Refreshed GITEX Edge

The Hot Stuff Awards is just one element of GITEX Edge’s bid to imbue GITEX Technology Week with an all new interactive and constructively competitive dimension.

The Student Lab competition, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MoPA) and held in association with Google, aims to recognise and promote the brightest and most innovative ICT students from across the Middle East, Africa and South Asian region. Ten finalists have already been chosen to present their ideas to the world’s top ICT companies at GITEX Technology Week by a judging panel including Ahmed Al Hassani, Head of Networks and Systems Unit, Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Abdel Wahed Bendaoua, Head of Emerging Markets – EMEA, Google and Majid Farouck Hanna, General Manager, the UAE Society of Engineers. The jury and participating companies will vote for the top three projects that will receive cash prizes to help move ideas toward reality.

Among the entries catching the judges’ eye is Omar Saleh from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia who is proposing a Kinect technology-based solution for deaf people.

“GITEX Technology Week’s Student Lab competition is a great opportunity raise awareness of exciting new tech innovations, as well as network and learn from the leading names in the ICT industry,” said Emirati national Amna Al Al Dhaheri.

“I am delighted to make the top ten with the Cooking Time app, which is the first Arabic cooking game specifically aimed at Emirati society. The aim is to teach youngsters how to cook UAE traditional food, increase the number of Arabic games on the market and combine education with entertainment in a way that promotes and celebrates UAE culture. Everyone knows Sushi, why can’t they also know Balaleet!”

Additionally, GITEX Edge’s Cloud Confex will also present the first-ever Cloud Awards on 21 October. Awards will be presented in the categories of Best Data Centre Infrastructure Project, Best Cloud Security Implementation, Best Virtualisation Solution Implementation, Best Big Data Solution Project, and Best Government Implementation of Cloud Solution.