Oman has officially opened the Oman Makers Centre, a facility aimed at advancing local manufacturing and innovation through digital technologies. The inauguration took place on Wednesday at the Muscat Innovation Complex and was attended by Dr. Mahad bin Said Baowain, Minister of Labour.
The centre is managed by the Research and Innovation Authority in collaboration with key partners, including the Ministry of Finance, Beel Company, which supports the initiative through an offset development partnership, and MakerSpace People, the project’s implementation company. While the Authority owns and oversees the Centre, operational management is handled by the Industrial Innovation Academy under the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn). This arrangement links the Centre’s activities directly to industry needs and market demands.
Designed as a makerspace and an open laboratory, the Oman Makers Centre integrates international best practices by combining education, technology, and expertise. It provides an environment where ideas can be transformed into practical solutions through hands-on learning. During its pilot phase, the Centre supported several startups with technical assistance, demonstrating its potential to convert innovation into economic growth.
Dr. Malak bint Adam al Hashmi, Director of the Oman Makers Centre, outlined the facility’s vision, mission, and strategic goals during the inauguration. She reported that the Centre has attracted 98 members and delivered 1,666 training hours to date. It has also engaged in nine community events and hosted over 50 visitors, alongside conducting more than 45 introductory visits to various institutions to promote its services.
The Centre is equipped with an extensive array of advanced tools and workshops, including over 100 specialized machines such as 3D printers, precision laser cutters, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, electronics and smart circuits laboratories, as well as dedicated carpentry and metal-forming workshops.
These technical resources have enabled significant national projects, including the creation of Oman’s first fully locally developed 3D printer. The Centre also contributed to the production of a smart device for monitoring and controlling aquaculture water quality, developed for an Oman Investment Authority company, with 80 percent of the manufacturing conducted locally. Additionally, it produced a three-meter model of the International Space Station for Petroleum Development Oman.
During the ceremony, Dr. Mahad toured the Centre’s facilities, reviewing the workshops, laboratories, and state-of-the-art equipment, underscoring the government’s commitment to nurturing innovation and local industry development.