Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship

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Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship The Samih Darwazah Center of the Olayan School of Business aims to document and enhance innovative practices in the business community

The OSB “Samih Darwazah Center for Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship” was made possible through a generous gift from the Darwazah Family; a pioneering group in the pharmaceutical industry on a global scale. The Darwazah Center for the study of innovation and entrepreneurship was inaugurated on January 14, 2011 in OSB's Maamari Auditorium. The center aims to document and enhance innovative practices in the business community. It seeks to generate reliable information to guide evidence-based decision-making in this key sector that holds strategic importance in a knowledge economy. Its scope includes research, field studies, benchmarking, seminars and workshops as well as conferences all focused on the pivotal domain of organizational renewal and wealth creation through creative enterprise. “Innovate or die” is a serious risk facing businesses today and the new center hopes to become a major asset and a strategic resource for facing this challenge. Samih Darwazah, founder and chairman of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2005, was employed at Eli Lilly from 1964 to 1976 before establishing Hikma Pharmaceuticals in Jordan in 1977. Between 1995 and 1996 he served as minister of energy and mineral resources in Jordan. He also founded the Jordan Trade Association and was a member of the Advisory Economic Council to His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan. A Fulbright scholar, Darwazah holds a master's degree in industrial pharmacy from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Missouri which he obtained in 1964, and a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the American University of Beirut in 1954. Darwazah was elected Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 by Ernst and Young. In 2009, Darwazah was elected chairman of Capital Bank of Jordan and he also served as a Member of the Senate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Darwazah was granted an honorary doctorate from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in May 2010. Vision
Achieving and sustaining globally recognized thought leadership in the areas of Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship with a focus on the Middle East Region.

Join us to hear our Director, Dr. Bijan Azad, take the TEDx stage with his talk, “Human Edge in the Age of AI.”Hear his ...
06/10/2026

Join us to hear our Director, Dr. Bijan Azad, take the TEDx stage with his talk, “Human Edge in the Age of AI.”

Hear his insights on what the rise of artificial intelligence means for people and the future of work.

Dr. Azad's talk is part of TEDxInternationalCollegeBeirut: Unlocking Humanity, bringing together young voices and expert perspectives on what it means to be human today.

Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Irani Auditorium, International College Beirut

Tickets available at Librairie Antoine: $10 for adults | $5 for ages 18 and below

Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB American University of Beirut (AUB) TEDx International College Beirut TEDx

Deadline Extended: October 18!Got an innovative solution to a real problem?Apply to and compete for one of two $10,000...
05/10/2026

Deadline Extended: October 18!

Got an innovative solution to a real problem?

Apply to and compete for one of two $10,000 prizes to turn your idea into impact.

Application Link: https://bit.ly/4ibV8Xp



American University of Beirut (AUB) Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB Bijan Azad

28/09/2026

Got 15 seconds? Discover what is all about!

Develop, validate, and pitch your startup idea with expert support, and compete for $10,000.

Ready to take the next step?

Apply by October 4: https://bit.ly/4ibV8Xp

Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB American University of Beirut (AUB) Bijan Azad

22/09/2026

Celebrating innovation, collaboration, and the next generation of engineers!

Dr. Bijan Azad, Director of the Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship, was pleased to serve on the jury panel at the Final Pitching Ceremony of the Amazon.com Industry Program 5.0, in collaboration with the WIE AUB Student Branch at the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at AUB.

The ceremony brought together 20 student teams, who pitched projects developed throughout the program with hands-on experience and mentorship from Amazon engineers.

A great opportunity for students to refine their ideas, develop their projects, and gain valuable industry experience.

Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB American University of Beirut (AUB)

16/09/2026

From graduates to collaborators!

We’re proud to see Darwazah Startup Accelerate alumni Margot Wehbe and Ahmad El Ilani, founders of UWYTA and zigzagbeautyskincare, come together for a creative collaboration.

For Zigzag’s recent influencer yacht event, UWYTA created customized upcycled pouches to hold Zigzag’s products, bringing a sustainable, locally crafted touch to the experience.

This is what an entrepreneurial community can create: connections, collaborations, and opportunities that continue beyond the program.

You could be part of that community too!

Have a startup idea and want to take it further? Applications for this year’s Darwazah Startup Accelerate are now open.

Application Link: https://bit.ly/4ibV8Xp

Deadline: October 4th

Bijan Azad Mahmoud Ayoub American University of Beirut (AUB) Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB

Got an innovative solution to a real problem?Apply to and compete for $10,000 to turn your idea into impact.Applicatio...
07/09/2026

Got an innovative solution to a real problem?

Apply to and compete for $10,000 to turn your idea into impact.

Application Link: https://bit.ly/4ibV8Xp

Deadline: October 4th.



Bijan Azad Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB American University of Beirut (AUB)

What does it take to scale a business successfully?The answer begins with the right mindset, practical frameworks, and t...
29/07/2026

What does it take to scale a business successfully?

The answer begins with the right mindset, practical frameworks, and the willingness to challenge conventional ways of thinking.

In this video, Dr. Bijan Azad introduces the vision behind the EO x AUB-DC and the framework, setting the stage for the reflections of the entrepreneurs and business leaders who experienced the program firsthand.

Participants share the practical insights, tools, and perspectives they gained throughout the program, and how these are influencing the way they approach scaling their businesses.

We extend our sincere thanks to Entrepreneurs' Organization - Jordan Chapter, our distinguished faculty, and every participant for making this collaboration such a rewarding experience.

Full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDDhXA-XJDg

Stepping outside your comfort zone is often where entrepreneurship begins.Congratulations to Ms. Lamees Bashasha, recipi...
12/06/2026

Stepping outside your comfort zone is often where entrepreneurship begins.

Congratulations to Ms. Lamees Bashasha, recipient of the Randa Bdeir for and for the Academic Year 2025-2026.

Ms. Bashasha participated in the Darwazah Startup Accelerate (DSA) 2025 competition and demonstrated remarkable commitment, adaptability, and openness to learning. Coming from a Human Resources background, she initially viewed entrepreneurship as outside her area of expertise and at one point considered withdrawing due to the program’s demands. She chose to persevere, engaged seriously with mentorship, and made steady progress in developing her venture.

Ms. Bashasha is the co-founder of Lextopia, a startup focused on improving learning outcomes for dyslexic students. For her entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and determination, she was nominated by the Darwazah Center jury and mentors, whose recommendation was communicated by Dr. Bijan Azad, Professor at Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB, American University of Beirut (AUB) and Director of Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship.

Stories like Lamees's remind us that entrepreneurship is not only about innovative ideas, but also about the courage to embrace challenges and keep moving forward.

27/05/2026

Wishing our AUB community and loved ones a blessed Eid Al Adha filled with peace, joy, and togetherness. Eid Mubarak 🌙

23/05/2026

The final day of the EO x AUB-DC in Amman marked the completion of an enriching learning journey focused on business scaling and leadership development.

Participants explored key approaches to effective communication, negotiation, and scaling operations through practical frameworks, real-world examples, and experience sharing:
- Negotiation & Communication by Mr. Emile Strunc
- Scaling-Up Operations by Dr. Bijan Azad

The program concluded with the distribution of Certificates of Completion, celebrating three days of learning, collaboration, and valuable exchange among SME founders and senior managers from Entrepreneurs' Organization.

This program was delivered through a collaboration between the Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB, American University of Beirut (AUB) and EO Jordan Chapter.

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American University Of Beirut
Beirut

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Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

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