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Editorial Note: The competition has already launched. You can now apply to the competition by clicking here.   

The digital Arabic content is gaining more and more attention, especially after UNESCWA published a detailed report analyzing the digital Arabic content industry. To further promote the Arabic digital content, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is organizing the Arabic Digital Content Challenge, which seeks to support the next generation of social entrepreneurs working to uplift the Arabic digital content.

The competition will be launched during the upcoming ITU Arab Regional Development Forum in Manama, Bahrain, on the 28^th of October 2013. The prizes will be presented in the World Telecommunication Development Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from the 31^st of March until the 11^th of April 2014.

This challenge is organized by ITU in collaboration with UNESCWA, sponsored by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in Bahrain, and in partnership with the Information Technology Institute in Egypt and ArabNet.

More about the competition

The Arabic Digital Content Challenge is for any person between the ages of 18 and 30 with a creative and original idea relevant to Arabic Digital Content. The idea could belong to any of the following categories: e-commerce, social media, education, preserving cultural heritage, and mobile applications, among others.

The Selection Committee will evaluate the submissions based on innovativeness, business potential, social impact potential, and likelihood of success.

The winner will be granted seed money worth 5000 USD to help launch the startup project. The second place candidates will receive 3000 USD, and third place winners will receive 2000 USD.

In addition, the winners will receive invitations to participate in the World Telecommunication Development Conference from 31 March to 11 April, 2014, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Photo credit: http://isper.escwa.un.org

This article has been updated.