The first Dubai Lynx Innovation Award will launch in 2017
The Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity has today announced Ben Jones, former Chief Technology Officer at AKQA, as the Jury President for the first Innovation Award.
The new Award celebrates pioneering technological creativity and supports the objectives set out by the MENA region to promote and develop innovation across the industry.
The UAE has focussed on becoming a global hub for innovation and technology in recent years, seeing initiatives like national Innovation Week, now in its second year, launch and flourish.
As a world class technologist, Ben Jones has built a career on identifying the core elements of problems and using future technologies to resolve issues. His expertise has led to his appointment as a jury member for a wide range of international awards, including the Cannes Lions Innovation Lion Jury.
“Dubai Lynx has gradually seen an increased interest in technology and innovation and last year’s dedicated stage Data x Tech x Innovation proved a huge success. Ben has played a pivotal role in the permeation of innovation across all aspects of our industry, creating more exciting opportunities for customers to interact with brands. We are delighted to have him on board to lead the jury on this new award and set the standard for the future”, commented Terry Savage, Chairman, Dubai Lynx.
Entrants will be required to submit a written proposal and proof of concept including a clear demonstration of the technology, workings and processes. Before the Festival the esteemed jury identify and create a shortlist and these shortlisted entrants will explain their project to the jury in a 10-minute live presentation onsite at the Festival. Dubai Lynx delegates can attend these sessions which will take place on Monday 6 March.
Speaking on the announcement, Ben Jones said, “I can’t wait to be part of Dubai Lynx. I have always believed that the western world lives in isolation to the reality of greatness which comes from MENA and further afield. For me, Innovation is the perfect blend of simplicity, thoughtfulness, naive excitement, timing and the “retrospective obvious”. It’s often in the new ways we communicate to the fresh business models that are created and quite often this is where the excitement lies and often without huge spend. These pillars shone through many of the entries from different categories at last year’s Awards and I’m excited to see what entries come through this year.”
Entries can be submitted from 24 November and full details about Innovation and all of the Lynx Awards can be found on www.dubailynx.com. The prestigious Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony and Dinner takes place on 8 March in the Madinat Jumeirah Arena following 3 days of thought provoking seminars, challenging attendees to review their perspectives on creativity.
