Creative Solutions is a yearly thematic innovation program for multi-disciplinary individuals (art, science, technology, and many other industry areas) that are eager to collaborate with others in the development of a viable solution to an identified opportunity or challenge. Participants of the Creative Solutions program follow the Idea Lab processes (Design Thinking, Co-creation, Open Innovation) and are guided by experts in creativity, innovation, advisors, mentors, and facilitators throughout an idea to prototype journey.

• Develop original creative content, experiences and marketable solutions.
• Build an ecosystem of innovators that support the growth of the creative economy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Support professional skills development.
• Promote knowledge sharing.

In the 2023 edition, Creative Solutions will continue to embrace the theme Digital Content Creation and will highlight creative and gaming related immersive content. The aim is to ignite the development of an ecosystem in Saudi Arabia of creatives and innovators that uses digital technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Realities (MR), Extended Realities (XR), Immersive Audio, and Haptics to create innovative content, experiences, and solutions.

● Masterclasses on relevant topics to support skills development and idea development towards the prototype stage.

● Lab Infrastructure – For the duration of the program, participants will have access to a state-of-the-art Extended Realities Lab in the Idea Lab facilities in Ithra.

● Peer-to-peer learning – Part of a cohort of up to 20 talented creators from across the creative and technology sector.

● Business expertise – Support network of industry experts, high caliber peers and commissioning bodies to help develop impactful experiences and build new business models.

● Mentorship with experts.

● Skill-based development tracks: The Entrepreneurship development track and the Technical Development Track.

● Demo Day – Opportunity to participate, pitch and host private demos and meetings with key stakeholders who can support further development and opportunities.

● International Bootcamp.

● Exposure of cohort’s content in various outreach programs.

● The program was designed to be delivered mostly in a hybrid (physically and virtually) setup.

● The selected cohort of participants will have the option to attend the Onboarding, Masterclasses and other events in person or virtually. Costs for in-person activities will be covered by the Creative Solutions program.

● To support a high engagement from the cohort, all masterclasses will be delivered over the weekends.

● The development phase is four months long, and we will be flexible to accommodate the prototype development plans in a way that does not disturb other personal and professional commitments of the participants.

● The participation in the skill-based development, and the conditions of having only one rep to be able to signing for the Tracks.

Creative Solutions program is designed to support any 18+ year old Saudi Arabian citizen or resident creative or innovator in Saudi who has ideas, concepts and/or projects that can leverage immersive technologies to develop new and authentic content, experiences and viable solutions for the creative economy. The potential participants can be, for instance, artists, entrepreneurs, technologists, professionals, university students or academic researchers, among others. Participants who are interested to sharpen their skills in game development or in digital entrepreneurship.

● The program will be delivered in English as the main language, so fluency in English is mandatory to join the program.

● No expertise in immersive content development and creations is required.

● The participant must be able to attend all the activities, physically or virtually (for example, workshop and final Demo Day hosted in Ithra for the duration of the program).

● You may enter as a collaborative team, but there must be a lead individual that will engage in the program.

● All other collaborators involved must be named in the application process.

You will need to complete the full application form.

After your application has been received, it will be analyzed and, if needed, a phone call might be arranged to discuss your application.

● Contact information (for example, full Name, email address, telephone number, date of birth, etc.)

● The idea (for example, strength, originality, relevance)

● The opportunity or challenge identified

● Background and motivations

● Ability to commit to attending our workshops and events

● Skill development phase questions

● There is no requirement to disclose existing IP or 3rd Party IP as part of the Creative Solutions selection process.

● All disclosures made at the Creative Solutions program shall be considered non-confidential (i.e. “in the open”), so you choose what you disclose to others. If you do share information then be aware that you are sharing it openly and participants are free to talk to others about their experiences.

● The Ithra Creative Solutions program will provide an environment where ideas are generated, and sharing is encouraged. You agree to be respectful of others' thoughts and ideas, and that the ideas generated at the program shall be freely available for use and disclosure by other attendees with attribution where appropriate.

● If you use someone else’s idea disclosed at the Ithra Creative Solutions program, you agree not to claim or register that idea as your own.

● If you use an idea disclosed at the Ithra Creative Solutions program, you agree to do so at your own risk.

● If you do reveal any background intellectual property (IPR) in the form of closed software, you must clearly advise others that it is your background IPR, other participants agree not to reverse engineer it, unless they obtain it lawfully other than at the Ithra Creative Solutions program.

● If there comes a point in the Ithra Creative Solutions program when you feel that it is appropriate for a conversation to move into a “closed” mode, let a member of the program team know and appropriate arrangements will be made.

● Intellectual Property includes proprietary know-how, copyrighted material, inventions, patent rights, and any other type of intellectual property.