Tamkeen Initiates Second Phase Of Cloud Innovation Centre With Bahrain Polytechnic

Bahrain's Labour Fund (Tamkeen) has joined forces with Bahrain Polytechnic to roll out the second phase of its Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC) programme, a strategic move aimed at sharpening the cloud computing skills of Bahraini professionals. This initiative not only seeks to propel the kingdom's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems forward but also to solidify Bahrain's position in the local, regional, and international markets through the development and acceleration of promising concepts by its graduates.

The programme's second phase is a direct continuation of its initial success, focusing on aiding participants in kick-starting startups, broadening their business horizons, and boosting their market competitiveness. It underscores the importance of cloud computing technologies in modernizing service delivery, fostering innovative solutions to various challenges, and motivating qualified Bahraini professionals towards entrepreneurship.

Significantly, this initiative plays a crucial role in the expansion of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Bahrain, which was responsible for 6.8% of the kingdom's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022. The sector is a cornerstone of Bahrain's digital transformation efforts. "This collaboration with Bahrain Polytechnic is aimed at developing the cloud computing skills of Bahraini professionals and helping to transform their innovative concepts into successful businesses," stated Ali Hassan, Tamkeen Executive Director of Programme Development and Partnerships.

The partnership is also in line with the kingdom's digital government strategy objectives, which focus on enhancing the private sector’s role in driving national economic growth and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. It further aims at professional development by equipping Bahraini talent with emerging digital skills, making them preferred candidates in both local and international job markets.

In addition to CIC at Bahrain Polytechnic, Tamkeen supports a similar programme at the University of Bahrain. Since their inception, these Cloud Innovation Centres have supported 106 students through intensive hands-on training facilitated by experts from Amazon Web Services (AWS), leading to 34 innovative models proposed as solutions for public sector challenges.

"We are committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders in innovation and establishing a new standard for supporting startups and fostering their growth," remarked Dr Philippe Pringuet, Bahrain Polytechnic Dean of Applied Research and Enterprise. He emphasized the critical need for training Bahraini professionals in cloud computing technologies due to its expected widespread adoption across various sectors.

The initiative is part of a broader series of partnerships aimed at enhancing the capabilities of local talent. This includes training support for Bahraini talent in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in collaboration with AWS and the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), as well as Tamkeen's collaboration with KPMG to support employment and training of Bahrainis at the company's Low Code Centre of Excellence. These programmes align with Tamkeen's 2024 strategic priorities focused on economic impact and private sector development under three pillars: increasing economic participation, expanding career development opportunities for the Bahraini workforce, and developing the private sector by supporting enterprises and boosting productivity through technology adoption.