Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship

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.

15/01/2026

Looking back at Demo Day, we are grateful for the remarkable contributions of our esteemed speakers. Grateful for:

• Dr. Bijan Azad for leading the competition with dedication and for providing close, personalized feedback to every startup.

• Ms. Hana Darwazeh for her continued commitment to supporting and empowering current and future entrepreneurs.

• Dr. Lina Choueiry for sharing insights on innovation, research, and entrepreneurship within the AUB ecosystem.

• Mr. Mouin Jaber for an engaging and impactful fireside chat.

• Ms. Margot Wehbe, winner of , for presenting her inspiring journey of growing her business.

Thank you for empowering the next generation of innovators.

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

31/12/2025

May the New Year bring renewed energy, fresh ideas, and shared success.

Warm wishes from the !

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a joyful holiday season!

19/12/2025

Behind every win is hard work, systematic feedback, and belief in one's vision.

Congratulations to winners!

Testimonials from the founders highlight their journey and growth across the competition.

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

The , in collaboration with Research Committee at hosted a research talk on the recently published paper "A Time fo...
16/12/2025

The , in collaboration with Research Committee at hosted a research talk on the recently published paper "A Time for Monsters: Organizational Knowing after LLMs" by Professor Samer F***j from McGill University.

Dr. F***j described large language models (LLMs) as boundary-crossing “epistemic monsters” that are changing how we think about knowledge, research, and expertise. He focused on analogical reasoning as a key way these models work, showing how LLMs can support organizational sensemaking while also creating new risks and challenges.

The presentation was followed by a rich discussion among AUB faculty members on how computer science education must evolve in the age of generative AI, the role of tools like ChatGPT in human cognition, and the governance of AI-powered knowledge.

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

11/12/2025

From Logistics to Impact: Wakilni shows how design-driven, tech-enabled logistics - combined with strategic thinking and organizational agility - can transform SME growth in Lebanon and beyond.

Full story here: https://bit.ly/4ppD5yc

podcast series is produced by Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB, American University of Beirut (AUB) in partnership with SPARK Middle East "From Innovation to Creation" programme, funded by the European Union.

Bijan Azad Yusuf Sidani Mahmoud Ayoub Lina Tannir Bokja eddress Go Baladi Moodfit - Design and Furniture Sarah's Bag TAQA Kids Airline Pediatric Clinic Yayy L'artisan du Liban

08/12/2025

Demo Day: $22K Awarded to AUB’s Top Student Startups

Congratulations to the winners:
- Grand Prize: Bilo – $10,000
- Prize: Snapfit & Khazzin – $5,000 each
- Runner-Up: Polyvia & Lextopia – $1,000 each

These outstanding startups - narrowed down from around 50 applications - advanced through the rigorous bootcamps and were celebrated at the 12th Demo Day, held on November 27 by the Center at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB, American University of Beirut (AUB) in the honorary presence of Ms. Hana Darwazeh Ramadan, Dr. Lina Choueiri and Dr. Yousif Asfour.

Grateful to our mentors, jury, and the Darwazah family for fueling the next generation of .

With 120+ attendees, including students, academics, and industry leaders, this year's Demo Day highlighted , , and the future of .

Bijan Azad

03/12/2025

From Design to Impact: Building Purposeful Brands

Sarah's Bag demonstrates how design-led thinking, brand differentiation, and agile change management help overcome production challenges, build loyalty, and scale internationally!

Full story here: https://bit.ly/4gp0eN1

podcast series is produced by Darwazah Center for Innovation Management And Entrepreneurship at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB, American University of Beirut (AUB) in partnership with SPARK Middle East's "From Innovation to Creation" programme, funded by the European Union.

Bijan Azad Yusuf Sidani Mahmoud Ayoub Lina Tannir Bokja eddress Go Baladi Moodfit - Design and Furniture TAQA Wakilni Kids Airline Pediatric Clinic L'artisan du Liban Yayy

26/11/2025

“Serious, committed, passionate” - some of the words our used to describe the finalists!

Don’t miss your chance to see these brilliant take the stage and shine at the Demo Day!

Date: Thursday 27 November 2025
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: AUB, OSB, Maamari Auditorium

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/44t0YvD

Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB American University of Beirut (AUB) Bijan Azad Yusr Sabra George Alam Pascale Lahoud Nabil Fahed

is thrilled to host a fireside chat with Mouin Jaber – co-host and co-creator of .Have you wondered how venture b...
24/11/2025

is thrilled to host a fireside chat with Mouin Jaber – co-host and co-creator of .

Have you wondered how venture built a loyal community and grew? Come find out. Valuable insights and hard-earned lessons!

The fireside chat is part of Demo Day event, celebrating eight finalist startups at the 12th edition of .

Date: Thursday 27 November 2025
Time: 5:30pm
Location: AUB, OSB, Maamari Auditorium

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/44t0YvD

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

20/11/2025

Pitch Training! No one does it better than the iconic Ms. Priscilla Elora!

Five key takeaways for a compelling pitch - from Session:
1. Keep it simple, sharp, structured, and concise. Avoid cluttered or multi-colored slides.
2. Clearly communicate: the problem, your solution, financials, growth plans, and team expertise.
3. Start strong: hook your audience and use storytelling to make your message memorable.
4. Be confident: memorize your script - no guessing or reading off slides.
5. Present with impact: use positive body language and a mindful tone of voice.

The eight finalists are expected to incorporate the learning of this session, update their pitches and get themselves ready to present in front of the tomorrow.

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

18/11/2025

The countdown is on!

After weeks of intensive bootcamps, eight finalist teams are getting ready to present their to the this Friday, November 21, 2025.

The , led by Dr. Bijan Azad, is excited to welcome this year’s esteemed jury: Dr. Nabil Fahed, Dr. Pascale Lahoud, Ms. Rima Freiji , Mr. George Alam, and Ms. Yusr Sabra.

Innovative minds. Inspiring ideas. Impactful conversations ahead.

Stay tuned for the jury’s top insights!

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

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American University Of Beirut
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