Oman and Kuwait Cyber Accelerator

The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain) are rapidly developing national cyber security systems and seeking to kick-start an indigenous cyber economy in order to enhance national security capabilities, sectoral resilience and wider economic diversification. The UK has a particular expertise in this area, with over 1,000 cyber security companies, ranging from start-up to multinational, and a well-developed ecosystem designed to identify and accelerate tech ecosystem.

The tech ecosystems of the Gulf countries are nascent and fragile, with great support required to identify and promote talent. As such, this project proposes to launch two virtual cyber security accelerator programmes in the region; one in Kuwait and one in Oman (chosen due to the strength of commercial and strategic relationships with the UK) designed to identify regional talent, accelerate and launch start-ups.

In Oman, the project is a direct follow-on from the Cyber Accelerator programme launched in 2019. The Embassies in Kuwait and Oman will identify key partners to co-deliver with, likely the Telecomms Regulatory Authority in Kuwait and Ministry of Technology in Oman.

These partners will lead recruitment of talent, marketing, and provision of facilities and generic business support/mentoring. The supplier shall deliver all of the following: a) Support Government efforts on marketing and recruitment of talent through social media. b) Co-evaluate talent for entry to the programme. c) Co-host a virtual launch event. d) Deliver a week-long virtual course (or "boot-camp) designed to take the entrepreneurs through a rigorous business and technical programme designed to enable them to develop a product and business plan. e) Deliver a programme of intensive remote mentoring. f) Co-host a product demo day g) Work with delivery partners to develop long-term mentoring plans after project end.