2 minute read
Space Initiative of the Year
from PRO 2020
2019 ASBU BROADCAST PRO AWARDS SPACE INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR ORBITAL SPACE
Back in the 1960s, only one country in the GCC was eyeing space opportunities - that country was Kuwait. But these achievements were short-lived, with the ground station being destroyed in the Iraqi invasion in 1990. Yet now, thanks to the singular efforts of Orbital Space in Kuwait, led by the remarkable Kuwaiti engineer Bassam Alfeeli, the dream is alive again.
I was very excited to receive the award for Space Initiative of the Year. Launching a new business is risky, and a challenging endeavour. Launching a space technology company in an environment not supportive of space activities doubles, if not triples that risk and difficulty but I was up for the challenge. I was inspired by the space activities in the UAE and anticipated success if I followed in their footsteps. However, it was not as simple as it sounded. The Satellite Pro Award came in rather timely as I was facing major challenges.
The award boosted my morale and gave me a great push to continue. The recognition from Satellite Pro opened doors, within my home country, that I wasn’t even aware of and helped me overcome some of the challenges I was facing. The award also opened up a fertile ground for Orbital Space regionally and internationally, and has boosted the visibility of our inclusive community programmes and outreach activities. This has been impactful in creating opportunities for us to connect with space ecosystems in the region and elsewhere.”
Bassam Alfeeli, Founder and GM of Orbital Space
2019 ASBU BROADCAST PRO AWARDS INNOVATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR TOYOTA SAUDI SELECT MOBILE APP – BLINK
An amazing ‘holoportation’ technology from Blink Studios helped create the app. A Saudi consumer who wants to buy a car but does not want to go to the showroom can now see a threedimensional view of the vehicle from the comfort of their home.
Blink Studios is proud to celebrate the highly esteemed Broadcast Pro Award which confirms the studios’ unwavering ambition to deliver state-of-the-art animated storytelling experiences that mirror the advancement of technology. The accolade of the Toyota Saudi Select App is not only a display of innovation on our part, but also the ability to engage women in the automotive retail experience at the historical brink of societal emancipation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Blink Studios’ 15 years of creative, innovational and genuine approach to storytelling has placed it at the forefront of the region’s animation industry with the ability to connect bridges from the east to west riding out an inspirational vision from the UAE to the USA.”
